Peter Jackson Says New Line Is Getting Personal

"It is regrettable that Bob has chosen to make it personal," Jackson told Hollywood trade paper Variety. "I have always had the highest respect and affection for Bob and other senior management at New Line, and continue to do so."

Shaye claimed in his recent interview with SciFi Wire that the trilogy director never aired his complaints ahead of time with New Line where he could've worked them out. Instead, he decided to take the matter to court, and Shaye said he doesn't work with someone "who is suing me." Jackson, however, said that's not the case, and he did make a serious effort to try and work things out internally with New Line.

"We attempted to discuss the issues raised by the 'Fellowship' audit with New Line for over a year, but the studio was and continues to be completely uncooperative," Jackson said. "This has compelled us to file a lawsuit to pursue our contractual rights under the law. Nobody likes legal action, but the studio left us with no alternative."

Jackson also made it clear that he has had nothing to do with the alleged boycott of New Line's 40th anniversary celebration that Shaye claimed the director was orchestrating. However, Jackson said he himself pulled out of the 40th anniversary video because he didn't feel it was appropriate to be singing the studio's praises when he was trying to get money he feels he deserves from the movie project.

If there is anything discouraging the cast from wanting to participate in the celebration, it actually could be blamed on the studio head himself.

"I have never discussed this video with any of the cast of the LOTR," Jackson said. "The issues that Bob Shaye has with the past pre-date this lawsuit by many years."

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