Rings sequel named best picture of 2003

The Producers Guild of America has given the makers of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King the top award at the 15th Annual Producers Guild of America Awards.

Peter Jackson, Barrie M Osborne and Fran Walsh produced Return of the King, the last instalment of The Lord of the Rings fantasy trilogy.

Return of the King is widely considered the franchise’s best shot to take top honours at the Academy Awards.

The first two films earned best-picture nominations but lost.

Jackson, who also directed the trio of films, was nominated for a best-director Oscar for Fellowship of the Ring but lost, and he was overlooked for an Oscar nomination on Two Towers.

Oscar nominations come out on January 27.

Other guild winners announced Saturday night at the Century Plaza Hotel, in Los Angeles:

Television Drama: “Six Feet Under,” HBO.

Television Comedy: “Sex and the City,” HBO.

Television movie, miniseries or other long-form television: “Live from Baghdad,” HBO.

Reality, game or informational series: “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” Bravo.

Long-form television: “My House in Umbria,” HBO.