It would have seemed like crazy talk a couple of months ago, with the memory of people dressed up as Hobbits camping out in front of film theatres to be first in line for tickets to "The Lord of the Rings" pictures still fresh in our minds, but chances are those same people might be picketing "The Hobbit" instead.

The conflict between director Peter Jackson, who brought the trilogy to life, and New Line Cinema [see earlier coverage here, here, here and here], stemming from a legal conflict over revenues from those films, show no signs of an amicable ending. And New Line, who otherwise might run out the clock on their rights to the Tolkien works, are ordering full speed ahead, and damn the torpedoes.

In an interview with The New York Times, New Line co-chairman and founder Robert K. Shaye,k who in an earlier interview with Sci Fi Wire he called Jackson "arrogant and myopic", confirmed that they will be going ahead with "The Hobbit", no matter what, with their eyes on a 2009 release.

Without specifically saying he would not make the film with Mr. Jackson, Mr. Shaye made it plain that he had no interest in working with difficult filmmakers. “Some directors are impossible,” he said. “Are there a few people I wouldn’t work with? Yes, but I won’t name names.”

And he would not comment on reports in the news media that the “Spider-Man” director Sam Raimi had been asked to direct “The Hobbit.” He said, however, that although there was no workable script yet for the film, he intended to release it in 2009.

So, to sum up: No script, no director, actors who have publicly sided with Jackson, fans in an uproar... Oh yes, this sounds like a triumph in the making.