Rings director Jackson cast out by studio

DIRECTOR Peter Jackson has been told he will not be hired to direct a movie based on JRR Tolkien novel The Hobbit, despite the nearly $3 billion (€2.3bn) global box office success of his Lord of the Ring trilogy that picked up 17 Oscars.

Jackson has also abandoned plans to direct a planned prequel to The Lord of the Rings.

In a letter posted on Theonering.com, Jackson and partner Fran Walsh said an executive from New Line Cinema had called to tell them the studio was moving ahead with The Hobbit without him.