Streamlined Jackson tells of Kong hopes

Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson has shed more than 11kg since The Lord of the Rings trilogy finished filming - something he puts down to an improved diet and exercise.

After gaining a reputation for looking like one of his on-screen hobbits, Jackson was noticeably slimmer when he began working on King Kong a few months ago.

While he initially chose to remain silent on his makeover, yesterday Jackson said he had not been on any particular diet. His weight loss was due to cutting back on carbohydrates, fat and sugar while increasing his exercise.

The latest edition of Newsweek magazine has reported Jackson lost 11.3kg, shed his glasses and, after a plea from partner Fran Walsh, started to wear a wider range of colours.

The magazine also gives a colourful insight into the Wellington director at home on a recent Friday night.

Over dinner and wine, Jackson said it would be stupid to try to better the box-office success of The Lord of the Rings.

"To live the rest of your life trying to top Lord of the Rings would be a foolish and unsatisfying thing to do. So you set your sights on making a thoroughly entertaining movie so that people are not disappointed.

"It's highly unlikely King Kong will ever make more money than Lord of the Rings."

However, scriptwriter and friend Philippa Boyens, also at the table, disagreed. "For the record, Kong is going to kick Lord of the Rings' ass! It will!"

After visiting the Kong set, the magazine reported how old New York was being reconstructed "with a fanatical accuracy" by Wellington special-effects company Weta Digital, using blueprints and historical records.

An accompanying colour sketch by Weta Workshop gave the first glimpse of the ferocious primate Jackson wants to bring to life.

The article also described the "directors' den" Jackson and Walsh have at their Seatoun home, which contains Lord of the Rings figures, movie books, a small collection of props used in the 1933 King Kong movie and a cardboard model of the Empire State Building which Jackson made when he was 13.

- NZPA