Saw this on TORN this morning:
LINK:
http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1164265935
Saul Zaentz On The Hobbit
Demosthenes @ 2:12 am EST
Saul Zaentz, the owner of Tolkien Enterprises, and ultimate holder of the film rights to The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings was very recently interviewed about the Hobbit and Peter Jackson's involvement.
The interview has since been posted on German Rings site Elbenwald. You can read it here.
It's in German, so here's a translation of his comments.
Q: What is with the long anticipated Hobbit-adaption?
A: It will definitely be shot by Peter Jackson. The question is only when. He wants to shoot another movie first. Next year the Hobbit-rights will fall back to my company. I suppose that Peter will wait because he knows that he will make the best deal with us. And he is fed up with the studios: to get his profit share on the rings trilogy he had to sue New Line. With us in contrast he knows that he will be paid fairly and artistically supported without reservation.
So nothing is settled yet.