The Hobbit in July 2007?

[Essex]

Originally Posted by Rikae

Bear in mind, this most likely means not only no WETA, but no McKellen or Serkis, either. I predict an unwatchably awful Hobbit.

I'm not sure this would be true. as you said in your edit, weta might still be involved.

and why not mckellen or serkis? does an actor have to stay loyal to a director? no of course not. does jackson stay 'loyal' to actors by using them in each of his movies? of course he does not. ok, he used Serkis as Kong but that stands to reason. but he didn't use mckellen or anyone else in king kong. so why would that mean mckellen (or blanchett or elrond or Lee) not do the movie if it has another director?

perhaps serkis has some 'loyalty' to jackson, but I don't think jackson would mind if any of these actors took a part in a hobbit film with another director.