Actors Sue New Line over LOTR

Maybe I'm blowing wind here. But New Line took a huge risk releasing LOTR which in the end was very successful. Thank goodness for that. Aftewards, when the dust settled and the execs there are patting each other on the back and rolling in the dough. Little details that were forgotten are just now coming up biting them in the arse. I don't know if its because New Line is actually short changing people here or there are folks out there that think they deserve more.

My concern is that incidents like this can also ruin the possabilities for other great movies from getting made. Studios seem to be shy of taking risks as it is. Which is why we keep getting remakes after remakes. Wash, rinse, and repeat.

What if somebody decides they want to make a movie about Isaac Asimov's Foundation series? Studios might reflect on the potential legal wraglings also. Worse case scenerio is a studio green lights it with a miserly budget then gives it to a bunch of hacks to put it together. Look at Eragon. Not that that was such a great book to begin with. But someone with the right amount of talent could have pulled it off.

Anyway, my 2 cents.

Well, you are right woodwraith, it could go that way, but it could also hopefully send a message to studios to treat the people they are working with , with a little more respect. I think New Line was always a pretty good studio mostly because they took risks and were kind of edgy, like the Weinsteins, but they seemed to have dropped the ball on this one and are paying for it. I don`t know if its that they just have shady characters running things over there or that they were always kind of shady and this stuff is just coming out more. The bottom line though, is if they were supposed to do something in their contracts and didn't do it or halfassed it by hiding money, then they should have to pay up. If its not and those actors are just looking for extra dough, they should be tarred and feathered.

It just goes to show that with anything concerning the Hollywood industry (actually, it applies to life itself...I'm sure opinions will vary), ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT, and if one can afford one, get a lawyer to review any contract for such deals....Say? Didn't New Line used to distribute "classy" movies back in the 90's such as The Piano, and The Crying Game...(Yes, it sounds like the line from Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back...Coincidently, also released through New Line)?....Point Blank: Hollywood is another form of corporate BUSINESS!

So what if they sue? They have good lawyers I'm sure and there was money to be made by the "little people" in movie then they should get their share of the wealth. There is plenty of money to go around I'm sure. Courts hopefully will decide right if they are entitled. Everybody sues if they get a chance I've noticed over the years.

Just for the record, New Line still owes me 2.3 million in back payment for services rendered.... I was responsible to give John Rhyes Davis his sponge bath, and waking Orlando Bloom from his coffin every day.

Actually popeye, it was Miramax and Demension films that released those movies....New Line started releasing movies lIke a Nightmare on Elm St. , Critters andTeenage Muntnat Ninja Turtles.....Its s hame shit goes down like this, but I don't see what the big issuse is,,,,,,LOTR made almost 3 billion worldwide, they should have no problem paying some actors what they think they are owed. Pay it, move on and get Peter Jackson to direct the Hobbit.

New Line was also sued over Blade by Wesley Snipes. So, it appears that as of late, the powers that be at New Line are doing some very underhanded and suspect activities that are pissin everybody off... Once you can say someone is overreacting. But 3 different incidents are hardly coincidental.

gods, at the very least, even if they are entirely innocent regarding the legal issues (which looks unlikely to me), they're managing to alienate a lot of people (in the industry; I really don't think Joe Popcorneater makes movie decisions based on the legal trials and tribulations of a particular studio). Even if the execs at NL think they're absolutely 100% in the right, they need to take a more pragmatic approach, settle out of court, say nice thinks in the press about the litigants, and get back to making movies. Next time a contract dispute arises, they can take a lesson from this experience and resolve it as quickly and quietly as possible.

i agree godsonfilm and capt, New Line, at least to anyone that keeps up with industry news, is in the shitter right now in terms of public opinion. The fact that the series and it's branch merchandise made so much money, it's ridiculous that New Line is getting into litigation with producers, actors, and even the director himself. Shame on you Robert Shaye!

This will stay tied up in litigation till someone runs out of money. That ain't gonna be New Line.