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Jackson fights to save The Hobbit
Sir Peter Jackson says he is fighting to save The Hobbit films, thousands of jobs and the New Zealand film industry in the face of a threatened actors' boycott orchestrated by an "Australian bully boy" union. It is the beginning of a saga worthy of it's own movie as interested parties vie to have their say over the future of The Hobbit. -
Karl Urban backs unions over Hobbit
Kiwi movie star Karl Urban has thrown his weight behind a union demand for better conditions for actors. Urban's comments come after unions – including the Australian-based Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, of which the New Zealand Actors Equity is aligned – joined forces and called for actors to boycott Sir Peter Jackson's The Hobbit movies because it is a non-union production. -
Actors ask to meet Jackson over Hobbit
About 200 actors meet in Auckland and say they wanted to talk about the dispute over the making of the JRR Tolkein adaptation. -
Jackson meets Govt ministers at Beehive
Film-makers Sir Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh meet Government ministers to brief them on the background to a dispute with actors on his upcoming project, The Hobbit. -
Other countries vie to get The Hobbit
At least half a dozen countries, including Australia, are lobbying to win the right to film The Hobbit and Hollywood accountants are now doing the numbers of rival offers, the movie's co-producer and co-writer Phillipa Boyens says. -
Scotland places bid for The Hobbit
Glasgow's Herald said the Scottish landscape would be "an attractive location" for filming with mountains, valleys and forests similar to those depicted in JRR Tolkien's Middle Earth. -
The Hobbit's little people revolt
Being an actor in New Zealand isn't easy. With every job up for grabs there are dozens, even hundreds, of hopefuls wanting the spot. There are graduates tumbling out of drama school to compete with and, even if you do nab a role, jobs are shortlived. <a href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/big-reads/4191204/The-Hobbits-little-people-revolt' target="_blank">Read the full story on what it's like to be an actor in New Zealand</a> -
Wellington actors oppose boycott
Up to 90 Wellington actors send a statement to Actors Equity opposing a boycott of The Hobbit. <a href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/4222575/Wellington-actors-oppose-boycott' target="_blank">Read the full story</a> -
Jackson to direct The Hobbit in 3-D
Peter Jackson announces he will direct The Hobbit, but he did not state whether the two-part prequel to The Lord of the Rings would be shot in New Zealand. -
Hobbit technicians meet in Miramar
Sir Richard Taylor has met film technicians in Wellington to discuss the future of The Hobbit. <a href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/4254451/Hobbit-technicians-meet-in-Miramar' target="_blank">Read the story on the Dominion Post</a> -
Jackson hits back
Sir Peter Jackson hits back at the Council of Trade Unions' claim that he is trying to set up the actors' union to take the blame for The Hobbit going overseas. <a href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/4255536/Jackson-hits-back' target="_blank">Read the story on the Dominion Post</a> -
Hobbit cast announced
Martin Freeman, long rumoured as a favourite for the top role, has been confirmed to star as Bilbo Baggins, with Sir Peter Jackson saying he was the only man for the job. Read the story on dompost.co.nz -
Warner Bros considering offshore locations
In a statement, Warner Bros said the actions of unions had caused it substantial disruption and damage and forced it to consider other options. -
Workers urge 'positive' mass rally
Workers in the film industry are urging Kiwis to join a mass "positive rally" next week to persuade studio executives to keep The Hobbit in New Zealand. -
Thousands march to save The Hobbit
At least 2000 people turned out in Wellington's Civic Square, with thousands more rallying in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch, Queenstown and Matamata in a mass show of support. -
Warner Bros bosses meet John Key
Prime Minister John Key confirms industrial relations law changes and bigger financial incentives were the two issues under consideration by the studio as it weighed up whether to shoot the two Hobbit movies here or offshore. -
Hobbit to be made in New Zealand
After more than a month of uncertainty, Prime Minister John Key announces the two Hobbit movies will be made in New Zealand. Mr Key also said The Hobbit will get a $15 million tax rebate - $7.5m per film - and said he would be surprised if the films were the last to be made by Warners in New Zealand.
