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WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Actors guilds and several international unions told workers not to accept jobs on "The Hobbit," a two-part film to be shot in New Zealand. The unions included the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, The Hollywood Reporter said.
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The guilds say MGM/New Line has rejected efforts by the New Zealand unit of an Australian actors union to unionize the productions.
The Reporter said "The Hobbit" has not officially been green-lighted, but producer Peter Jackson has been preparing the adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien novel.
Jackson, who directed and produced the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, has been casting two "Ring" prequels for an expected 2011 shoot, the Reporter said.
A New Line spokesperson declined comment.
Representatives for MGM, SAG and the producers were not immediately available, the Reporter said.
No director has been announced yet for the projects.
