Global actors' unions have told their members not to take roles in the new The Hobbit movies amid a row over pay.

Cate Blanchett, Sir Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis are among the stars who have been linked with the two big-budget Lord of the Rings prequels.

But seven unions in the US, Australia, the UK and Canada said producers refused to negotiate a deal with them.

The New Line and MGM studios are financing the films. New Line declined to comment and MGM were unavailable.

The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson is to be executive producer.

The unions, under the umbrella of the International Federation of Actors (FIA), said performers in New Zealand had "struggled on non-union contracts" for some years.

Those contracts "provide no minimum guarantees of wages or working conditions", no payment for future broadcasts and no cancellation payments, they said.

"The International Federation of Actors... resolved that the time had come for performers around the world to support their colleagues in New Zealand and seek a union contract for all performers on The Hobbit," a statement said.

The FIA said producers have argued that entering into an agreement with the union would break New Zealand competition laws.

It is the latest setback to hit the movies, which have been in the pipeline for several years.

The project has yet to officially receive the go-ahead by New Line and MGM, due to ongoing financial problems.

Filming was originally scheduled to start last year, but will now not take place until 2011.

Mexican-born director Guillermo Del Toro signed on to direct the films, but pulled out in June citing delays.

Peter Jackson, who won the Oscar for best director for his work on Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, is expected to replace him at the helm, although no official announcement has been made.

They try to squeeze the unions in the cities they work in for more work for less while paying the actors, and themselves compensations that hit the stratosphere.  They tried in Massachusetts, but it didn't work.  Actually, when Clint Eastwood came to town for "Mystic River" it is said he told the production companies not to quibble and to give the unions whatever they wanted, they could afford it.  I love Clint.

Film-maker Peter Jackson has warned that production on The Hobbit movies could cease over a pay wrangle with acting unions.

The Lord of the Rings director, who is the films' executive producer, said it faced being shut down or moved from its location in his native New Zealand.

In an open letter, Jackson said shifting the entire project to eastern Europe "could so easily happen".

Unions have urged actors not to work on the films due to the dispute.

They try to squeeze the unions in the cities they work in for more work for less while paying the actors, and themselves compensations that hit the stratosphere.  They tried in Massachusetts, but it didn't work.  Actually, when Clint Eastwood came to town for "Mystic River" it is said he told the production companies not to quibble and to give the unions whatever they wanted, they could afford it.  I love Clint.


Exactly.  The motion picture business is just like any other international big business.  Even here in the U.S. with SAG and other unions, second-billed actors and crew members are seeing diminished pay while the headlining box office stars and the Hollywood fatcats rake in the windfall.  I'd love to see "The Hobbit," but if it gets made under a raw deal for the workers, I'll boycott it without a second thought. 

What's wrong with a Hobbit film?  ???

Exactly.  The motion picture business is just like any other international big business.  Even here in the U.S. with SAG and other unions, second-billed actors and crew members are seeing diminished pay while the headlining box office stars and the Hollywood fatcats rake in the windfall.  I'd love to see "The Hobbit," but if it gets made under a raw deal for the workers, I'll boycott it without a second thought. 


I saw a thing a while ago about people who used to do voice overs for animation, that's all gone now to the top stars.  It doesn't matter much to the audience if the voice is Tom Hanks(he did all the voices in Polar Express, or anyone else.  That is just sad, greedy and sad.

I saw a thing a while ago about people who used to do voice overs for animation, that's all gone now to the top stars.  It doesn't matter much to the audience if the voice is Tom Hanks(he did all the voices in Polar Express, or anyone else.  That is just sad, greedy and sad.


And there was Jerry Seinfeld's dumb bumblebee movie a few years ago, whatever that was called.
::)

What's wrong with a Hobbit film?  ???


The argument is going to make the film.  Will they have labor union protection or will they have to just take what the studios offer.

And there was Jerry Seinfeld's dumb bumblebee movie a few years ago, whatever that was called.
::)


Bee Movie....didn't see it

Bee Movie....didn't see it



I saw it,it was ok.

The argument is going to make the film.  Will they have labor union protection or will they have to just take what the studios offer.



They won't HAVE to take what the studio offers.

They won't HAVE to take what the studio offers.


Exactly. You can keep waiting tables if you want.  You don't need another major motion picture role on your resume!
::)

What's wrong with a Hobbit film?  ???


Unlike LOTR, it's too short.

Unlike LOTR, it's too short.


You could make an amazing epic single film out of The Hobbitt.  It's certainly not a short novel.  At the end Bilbo does not talk for 200 pages about why the Shire has the best economic system in Middle Earth...but there you go.  Do you want to read the best in modern fantasy literature or some heartless Russian immigrant with a chip on her shoulder against all mankind!
http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/13/icon_rendeer.gif

Maybe you want both....

http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/12/dontknow.gif

Unlike LOTR, it's too short.
A feature film (and a remake) has been made of John Steinbeck's novella of 'Of Mice and Men', which has only 105 pages.

A feature film (and a remake) has been made of John Steinbeck's novella of 'Of Mice and Men', which has only 105 pages.


105 pages of brilliant.  It is an example of the difference between writing to get paid by the word and...... writing.

Unlike LOTR, it's too short.


Should I see the film?

A feature film (and a remake) has been made of John Steinbeck's novella of 'Of Mice and Men', which has only 105 pages.


That's the example I was going to use.  The Jon Malkovich/Gary Senise film is wonderful.  My girlfriend cried when George had to shoot Lenny!
:\'(

Great news, Hobbit fans!  The film is apparently, a go!

:D

And with possibly Peter Jackson on aboard!

:D

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/peter-jackson-confirmed-as-hobbit-director-and-film-will-be-shot-in-3d

Great news, Hobbit fans!  The film is apparently, a go!

:D

And with possibly Peter Jackson on aboard!

:D

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/peter-jackson-confirmed-as-hobbit-director-and-film-will-be-shot-in-3d


rated PG? ???

rated PG? ???


Well, it's the Hobbit.  What do you expect them to do, slip in the N-word a few times?
http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/13/icon_bounce.gif

Well, it's the Hobbit.  What do you expect the m to do, slip in the N-word a few times?
http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/13/icon_bounce.gif


Hey I wouldn't mind.

Awesome news!

http://www.thenews.com.pk/latest-news/3071.htm

:D

Awesome news!

http://www.thenews.com.pk/latest-news/3071.htm

:D


Hooray!

The casting begins!

http://www.shockya.com/news/2010/10/22/the-hobbit-movie-cast-revealed/