LATEST: Oscar winner Peter Jackson has hit back at New Line boss BOB SHAYE, blaming the studio's lack of co-operation as the reason he has filled a lawsuit against them. Jackson and his production company, Wingnut Films, are currently embroiled in a legal dispute with New Line over royalties from the Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Shaye yesterday (11JAN07) insisted that Jackson will never be allowed to direct The Hobbit, the prequel to the popular series, while he is employed by the studio, because of the dispute. He fumed, "He's got a quarter of a billion dollars paid to him so far, justifiably, according to contract, completely right. "And this guy... turns around without wanting to have a discussion with us and sues us and refuses to discuss it unless we just give in to his plan. Jackson has hit back, explaining: "Our issue with New Line Cinema has only ever been about their refusal to account for financial anomalies that surfaced from a partial audit of THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. "Contrary to recent comments made by Bob Shaye, we attempted to discuss the issues raised by the Fellowship audit with New Line for over a year, but the studio was, and continues to be, completely uncooperative. "It is regrettable that Bob has chosen to make it personal. I have always had the highest respect and affection for Bob and other senior management at New Line and continue to do so."