[Professor S]

The Tolkien estate doesn't own the rights, as a animated version of the Hobbit was made long ago, I think someone in Rankin/Bass owns them and is asking for some rediculous price for them. New Line needs to just pony up the dough and make the damn movie.

I read a sad article about the Tolkien's a while back. The grandson was all for the movie versions and offered to help in making them, but his own father disowned him for doing so and now the grandson will receive nothing from the estate. Sad sad tale.