Legal path clear for Hobbit movie (BBC)

[Drew Wilson]

A film version of JRR Tolkien's novel The Hobbit is to go ahead after its producers settled a legal row with the author's heirs.

They sued New Line Cinema for a reported $220m (£133m) in compensation, based on breach of contract and fraud.

The suit claimed the US company failed to pay royalties due after the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Its settlement, for an undisclosed sum, paves the way for director Guillermo del Toro's two films based on the book.

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"Frodo, we're hopelessly lost!"
"Oh Sam..."
"We're not going to make it out alive!"
"Oh Sam..."

[Signa]

I'm shocked that they aren't giving the job to Peter Jackson again because of his success with the trilogy. Even so, Guillermo del Toro is an amazing director, and I see very little chance of being disappointed by him.