Is it really the end of the line for Oscar-winning
Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson and New Line? With their bitter, and public, war over their
LOTR profits seemingly putting the future of Jackson's gig helming
The Hobbit in jeopardy, the final nail in the coffin of the Jackson/New Line relationship may come from director
Sam Raimi. Raimi, whose
Spider-Man 3 hits theaters in May, now is rumored to be New Line's top choice to replace Jackson — but had remained mum on the project. Not so anymore, with the
Los Angeles Times reporting that Raimi has been telling friends, associates and even Sony Pictures that
The Hobbit may be his next project. The issue remains a complicated one, though, as execs for MGM, which holds the rights to distribute
The Hobbit, insist they still want Jackson. Also, the
LAT reports that Sony is planning at least six installments of the
Spider-Man franchise and hopes not to lose Raimi to another series, as New Line plans at least two movies to cover
The Hobbit storyline … Meanwhile, another controversial star is getting back to work.