THH HOBBIT NEWS
Peter Jackson's Deal for 'The Hobbit' Is Finalized
By MICHAEL CIEPLY LOS ANGELES—Apparently, only an ongoing union dispute in New Zealand now stands between "The Hobbit" and a start date in February. Warner Brothers' New Line Cinema unit and MGM have worked out their deal to finance the pair of films to be based on JRR Tolkien's novel, and Peter Jackson's deal to direct is now finalized, according to a person who was briefed on the movie's intricacies this week. But continuing uncertainty over attempts to have the filmmakers bargain collectively with their actors in New Zealand still stands between the production and its planned February start date (already delayed from an anticipated January date). New Zealand officials have said the production can't legally enter a collective bargaining arrangement with its actor-contractors, but unions there have insisted that a deal could be struck. If the studios move the film out of New Zealand, the budget, which already runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars, would have to be redrawn, and at least some further delay would be inevitable. A spokeswoman for New Line declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for the Screen Actors Guild, which has lent support to the New Zealand actors. A spokeswoman for MGM did not immediately comment....
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