From TOR.net: This is an excerpt from an email that Peter Jackson sent in regarding the much-awaited movie of The Hobbit.

However last week, Mark Ordesky called Ken and told him that New Line would no longer be requiring our services on the Hobbit and the LOTR ‘prequel’. This was a courtesy call to let us know that the studio was now actively looking to hire another filmmaker for both projects.

This is just sad. You can read the whole article, but I think I speak outside of fandom when I say that Peter Jackson needs to be onboard for this one. He deserves to be onboard. I can hardly imagine that the LOTR movies would have been nearly as popular or well made without his obvious love and respect for the story.

Have I been a part of the “Let The Hobbit Happen” campaign from the start? Yes. Would I see The Hobbit without Peter Jackson’s magical touch? Probably not.

To quote Jackson’s email ending:

We got to go there – but not back again … 😥