Jackson Says He Won't Be Making 'Hobbit'

The Associated Press
Tuesday, November 21, 2006

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Peter Jackson says he will not be
directing a movie based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novel "The Hobbit" or a
planned prequel to "The Lord of the Rings."

In a letter posted on Theonering.com., Jackson and partner Fran Walsh
said an executive from New Line Cinema had called to tell them the
studio was moving ahead with "The Hobbit" without him.

"Last week, Mark Ordesky called Ken (Kamins, Jackson's manager) and
told him that New Line would no longer be requiring our services on
`The Hobbit' and the LOTR `prequel,'" the 45-year-old New Zealand
director wrote.

"This was a courtesy call to let us know that the studio was now
actively looking to hire another filmmaker for both projects," he said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/21/

AR2006112100505.html

Can I just add my interest in seeing this film has dropped by 98%?