Peter Jackson Biography

Controversy also followed in 2005, as Jackson sued New Line over its handling of the profits of ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’, claiming fraud by the studio had led to him being severely underpaid. Dubbed “The Lawsuit of the Rings”, Jackson challenged the core of the remuneration structure in Hollywood. The claim was settled in December 2007, and resolving his differences with the studio, with the combined power of New Line and Universal, the eternal nine year-old finally achieved his ultimate goal of making ‘King Kong’ (2005).

With the success of LOTR the director gained carte blanche – the 2005 adaptation of ‘King Kong’ boasted a cast that included Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody. Jackson also chose Andy Serkis, who had played the iconic Gollum, to play Kong. Unable to contain his excitement, the visionary director’s final version runs for an incredible 3 hours and 8 minutes.

Despite an unremarkable $50.1 million opening weekend, word soon spread and Jackson’s reworking of the love story between a giant ape and a struggling actress secured Jackson yet another credit in the top 50 grossing films of all time. The Times hailed the film as ‘fabulous’ and Jackson’s special effects once again reigned supreme with four wins at the 78th Academy Awards.

With his childhood mission complete and exhausted from the decades he surrendered to his passion, one might have expected Jackson to retreat. However, the hard-working auteur has yet to relent. He has since helped create the 2007 video game ‘Halo’ and is due to release a remake of ‘Dambusters’ as well as an adaptation of Alice Sebold’s ‘The Lovely Bones’, starring Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg and Susan Sarandon.

After these projects, Jackson will be returning with an adaptation of Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’. This film and its sequel will see Jackson’s first collaboration with fellow director and fantasy fanatic Guillermo del Toro. As with LOTR, both Hobbit films will be photographed simultaneously in New Zealand, but this is where the similarities end. Jackson’s determination not to compete with his previous creations has meant that, while he will be writing and producing, del Toro will take on the role of directing.

Despite his success in the world of fantasy, the visionary director who started his career in the world of vampires and gore, longs to return to his roots. Inspired by more recent films such as ‘Shaun of the Dead’ (2004), Jackson has said that he plans to make more zombie movies in future. Bring on the splatter.