New Zealand Government Tries To Mediate Between Producers, Talent, On “The Hobbit”

The Hollywood Reporter notes that New Zealand’s economic development minister is taking charge of the dispute between director Peter Jackson and actors and others on the production of “The Hobbit.” Producer Jackson and his wife, Kate Walsh, who is co-producing the picture, do not want unionization of the film, a prequel to The Lord of the Rings saga, and seem nearly ready to pick up and move the project out of the country. Meanwhile, the big unions–SAG and AFTRA–have agreed to “do not work” orders in order to stand with the talent on “The Hobbit.” NZ’s government would like to avoid that outcome–hence the intervention. Read Mr. Jackson’s thoughts on the dispute here.