MGM wants Jackson to make Hobbit movie

Peter Jackson

Hollywood film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer wants Peter Jackson to make the prequel to The Lord of the Rings.

MGM is making a movie version of The Hobbit and plans to approach the Wellington film-maker, The DominionPost newspaper reported.

MGM shares the film rights for The Hobbit with another Hollywood studio, New Line Cinema, which funded Jackson's Rings trilogy.

The plan for the movie was part of an announcement of plans to make half a dozen big-budget films in the next few years, including Terminator Four.

MGM chief executive and chairman Harry Evans Sloan said he hoped that Jackson would direct The Hobbit.

A spokesman for Jackson said MGM had not contacted the director about the project and the film maker has a full schedule.

Jackson has announced plans to produce a remake of the World War II movie Dambusters.

- NZPA