Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. New Line is so smart. Why make another LORD OF THE RINGS film with Peter Jackson when they can pick up the rights to an untested kid's fantasy series yet to be published? Mark Burnett (SURVIVOR producer) is working with New Line to make this series into what they hope will be a 6-picture franchise.

The books are about a pair of teenage twins who "find themselve in the adventure of a lifetime" when the well-known alchemist Nicholas Flamel loses a book that could spell doom if it falls into the wrong hands.

That's a much smarter idea than not doing another pair of pictures in a billion dollar-per film franchise with the man who has all the fan support and the creative vision to bring it off... not to mention the loyalty of all the actors involved and the first choice of Saul Zaentz and MGM. Seriously, I wonder if MGM stands fast with wanting Peter Jackson to direct THE HOBBIT if that'll tie New Line's hands... because as I understand it, MGM owns the rights to distribute THE HOBBIT, but New Line owns the rights to making it. So, if MGM refuses to distribute, then New Line won't be able to show the movie in North America...

Sorry about the rant... this whole thing just boggles my mind. Maybe this new IMMORTAL NICHOLAS FLAMEL project will be great. I don't know... I just know that New Line's coming across as petty greedy fucktards.