[crabapple]

They don't necessarily want someone else to direct the film. They want to use the job as a bargaining chip to coerce Jackson into settling or dropping the suit. "He'll settle because he wants that Hobbit job something awful!"

Jackson says, "No way, no how will I settle. I want whatever you owe me, proper."

New Line says, "Well, we don't need you for the Hobbit movie then, so there! Say goodbye to some more millions plus profit participation, dumbass. Woo hoo!"

Jackson says, "Well, that's a bummer, but I am satisfied to move on from this. I don't really need to do the Hobbit film. I'll just continue suing your asses off, thank you. You have not succeeded in coercing me. Backfire on you. Double dumb-ass on you!"

********************

New Line will say, "Oh fuck! He's still suing us! That'll cost us a bunch of money! Offer him the Hobbit job again, along with a generous settlement this time."

Peter Jackson will say, "Sure, I'll do the Hobbit job, if you compensate me copiously and settle on that Lord of the Rings thing to the tune of whatever I say. I want X amount of dollars."

New Line will say, "Mother fucker! I mean, uh, SURE! Whatever you like, it'll be fine with us."