Peter Jackson's Next Move: 'The Hobbit' Or 'Temeraire'

Peter Jackson's Next Move: 'Lord Of The Rings' Prequel Or Dragon War Epic?

Director sets sights on 'Temeraire,' while MGM has him in mind for 'The Hobbit.'

On the one hand, there's the scary prospect of trying to bring to life the Napoleonic wars featuring an air force of dragons. Then there's the option of returning to the comforting confines of the shire, where the goose has already laid three enormous golden eggs and secured director Peter Jackson a place in cinematic history.

Such are the choices facing "King Kong" director Jackson, who has already set his sights on his next fantasy project, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Jackson has optioned the rights to the historical fantasy series "Temeraire," by first-time novelist Naomi Novik, which re-imagines the world of the Napoleonic Wars with the addition of an air force of dragons and brave aviators, even as MGM expresses an interest in having the New Zealand native get behind the camera for "The Hobbit," a prequel to his billion-dollar "The Lord of the Rings" series.

Jackson is currently focused on "Temeraire," though. The book's story follows British naval Captain Will Laurence, who, after capturing a French ship, discovers an unhatched dragon egg in the hold — a gift from the emperor of China intended for Napoleon. When the egg hatches, Laurence is forced to give up his naval career to become captain of the dragon he names Temeraire.

"'Temeraire' is a terrific meld of two genres that I particularly love — fantasy and historical epic," Jackson said, according to the Reporter. "I can't wait to see Napoleonic battles fought with a squadron of dragons. That's what I go to the movies for." Novik, a computer programmer, wrote the first "Temeraire" book in 2004 and is now working on the fourth installment.

Jackson got an early version of the book and said he was hooked from the beginning. "As I was reading these books, I could see them coming to life in my mind's eye," Jackson said. "These are beautifully written novels, not only fresh, original and fast-paced, but full of wonderful characters with real heart."

Though Novik said she was cautiously optimistic when she heard Jackson was interested, the author, who first read J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" at age 6, said having her novels read by the man who brought Tolkien's vision to the big screen is thrilling. According to the Reporter, Jackson hasn't decided whether he will make one "Temeraire" movie or three.

At the same time, according to Variety magazine, MGM wants Jackson on board for round four of the "Rings" series. The studio is interested in signing Jackson up to make the long-discussed prequel to the "Rings" series, "The Hobbit." So far, though, a spokesperson for Jackson said the director has not been contacted and has a full schedule coming up.

In addition to possibly directing "Temeraire," Jackson has signed on to produce a remake of the World War II movie "Dambusters." He has also optioned the rights to Alice Sebold's bestseller, "The Lovely Bones," and is working on writing a film adaptation of the novel, which he may also direct.

— Gil Kaufman (mtv.com)

Seems we'll have to wait a long time for The Hobbit to be made into a film. Though Temeraire sounds interesting.

Temeraire sounds pretty cool - I'd like to see if thats for sure. I'd probably like to see the Hobbit more I guess- especially since I think if he's going to do a Dragon thing, it'd be nice to see it in the form of Smaug in all his glory. But oh well.

Not bothered about a Dambusters remake mind.

I really hopes he takes the Hobbit.

Temeraire does sound interesting. Certainly unique.

overall, I'm just happy to see Fantasy back in theatres!! I knew LOTR would have this effect, to make the entire Fantasy genre blow-up again in the movies. we had a big fantasy decade in the 80s, and we all get to look back fondly on those movies.

now, thanks to LOTR, we have another wave of Fantasy in the coming years. recently saw that Eragon is coming to the screen as well... haven't read the books and am not really interested in them after reading the first few pages, BUT I can't wait to see this movie just cuz I love seeing dragons on the screen... just a sucker that way I guess.

I do very much wish Jackson would make the Hobbit before too long though. basically I just want Ian McKellan around to play Gandalf for it, and so I want to make sure Hobbit gets made before Sir McKellan gets too old (or dies) to play the role!!

What an unbelievable mess. To think this man Jackson was thought to have a career once. After all that glory he accumulated with LOTR, it wasn't enough that he wasted the world's time with that moronic gorilla movie that went ON and ON and ON, but now he's up for - what? More remakes...and The Dambusters needs a remake like I need a hole drilled in my penis..and a toss-up between dragon movies, as if Reign of Fire and Dragonheart and Dungeons & Dragons and all this other **** weren't enough, to do The Hobbit, a picaresque story which if any one single children's book could ever be written to be LESS suitable for bigscreen movie-adaptation I would pay it double-rates to service me orally, or dragons of French and British nationality doing battle circa 1800.

Pitiable.

I'd love to see The Hobbit. Sir Ian McKellen said that we would love to fill the role of Gandalf again. Ian Holm as Bilbo would also be nice.

I just want to see the Dwarves charging into those goblins at the Battle of the Five Armies. There's something inherently charming about Dwarves; they're short, grumpy, bearded guys who wield huge axes and hammers. Dwarves with guns are even cooler.

No more LOTR stuff please, so dragon war it is.


And i liked Kong:$

eithers good as far as im concerened i love all PJs movies especialy his early stuff

did anyone spot the braindead reference in king kong btw?

Originally Posted by spirit_of_rob

did anyone spot the braindead reference in king kong btw?

You mean the Sumatran Rat Monkey? Yeah.

LOTR was good, Kong was trash, so I'll be interested to see how this plays out. If it's that dragon thing, you can count me out for sure...

Imagine the size of the Chinese airforce in that historical fantasy...
MUAHAHAHAHAH!

I would like to see the Hobbit most, but I guess Temeraire sounds interresting in a very weird and stupid way.

Why do I find the idea of dragons and huge Napoleonic armies so strangely alluring?

Peter Jackson is also involved in a Halo movie (halo = the game)

I believe he is only the producer for the Halo movie.

hence why i said 'involved'

Get that fat bastard, or skinny as he's lost alot of weight, to work on the hobbit. He's been procrastinating way too long.

any movie based on a video game WILL suck,bigtime.period.

Jackson's LOTR got progressivly worse. Keep him off the Hobbit. In fact don't even bother ruining the book. If I want the Hobbit I will go grab my cousins annotated version.

Peter Jackson ->

Everyone knows that PJs golden moment was Bad Taste.