<span class="articleThumb floatright"><a href="javascript:openGalleryItemWindow('http://www.theonering.com/gallery/item.sd?iid=7784',740,560,7784);"><img src="http://www.theonering.com/images/medialibrary/image14.jpg_thumb.jpg"></a><span class="articleThumbCaption">Dominic Monaghan as Merry in Return of the King</span></span>Dominic Monaghan (Merry in The Lord of the Rings) was directly asked what he thought about the lawsuit between New Line Cinema and Peter Jackson. Here's his stance:
<blockquote>"This is a very iffy subject that you have to be careful with professionally as an actor because I've worked with New Line Cinema and I've worked with Pete Jackson and I have good relationships with both of them. My personal feeling as a fan is I think it's a real shame that New Line and Pete Jackson don't seem to be able to work out what's going to happen with THE HOBBIT. I think fans of that franchise would like to see New Line Studios attached with Pete Jackson directing.
"As I've said, my relationship with New Line has always been very good. I would bend walls to work with Pete Jackson again, so it's unfortunate that it's turned into a battle of words. For me personally, I can't get involved in that because you're just going to come away with your hands dirty and you're not going to look good."
</blockquote><p>The actors are clearly between a rock and a hardplace. They all love Peter Jackson, but don't want to bite the hand that feeds them--namely, the movie studios.
</p>