The Hobbit Legal Battle Gets Reaction from Dominic Monaghan (Merry)

[Guest]

<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.
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[Iarwain Annatar]

A typical response, one that isn't taking either side.

I don't want to take sides really, I just want them to work it out, because I don't know how good The Hobbit will be without Pete...

[frodolives668]

at times, perhaps it's just easier to stand aside and let them fight it out. Good choice of words on his part though. If he said the wrong thing he could have gotten into trouble, but he phrased it nicely.