Tolkien Kin Put Hobbit in a Hole

The Lord of the Rings may have galloped its way to box-office and Oscar glory, but The Hobbit is hobbling

The Lord of the Rings may have galloped its way to box-office and Oscar glory, but The Hobbit is hobbling. JRR Tolkien’s kin have slapped a suit on New Line Cinema which has signed Guillermo Del Toro as director and Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, and Hugo Weaving to reprise their roles as Gandalf, Gollum, and Elrond respectively. In 1969, Tolkien sold the rights to The Hobbit and his Lord of the Rings trilogy and a percentage of film profits to United Artists, which then passed into the hands of New Line Cinema. Tolkien’s son Christopher, 84, and daughter, Priscilla, 80, say they’re owed $220 million from the films.

Guillermo Del ToroJRR TolkeinThe HobbitThe Lord of the Rings