First, I would like to both apologize to those reading this, and congratulate myself for coming up with the title of this article. Now that that’s out of the way it’s time to speculate on the burning question in every film fans mind today. Will Peter Jackson’s planned adaptation of The Hobbit film in New Zealand, or will it have to relocate to the UK or elsewhere?

For those that are unaware the road to the start of production hasn’t been easy for the those involved. There was the bankruptcy and rights issues with MGM, the loss of the original director Guillermo Del Toro prompting Jackson to take the reigns, and just before the movie was finally greenlit the cause of the current woes reared it’s head. An imposed international actors boycott of the film by the Australian led, but New Zealand based Actors Union.

The now-lifted boycott was in protest to what the Union believed to be unfair compensation on the films, even though according to the producers the contracts were the best ever created in the countries history. Warner Bros who owns the production rights, has sent it’s top executives to New Zealand today to try and work things out, as the citizens of the country rally in support of the movies.

Viral support has been huge as well, watch below as a fan used the audio from The Return of the King trailer to get the message out there.

The planned pair of films would bring much money and needed jobs to the small country, and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is personally meeting with the WB men, possibly as you read this.

While Mr. Key says the chance of the film staying in the country is about 50/50, Jackson seems less hopeful implying that the damage has been done. Why would the WB risk another strike during filming that could cripple the production? It seems New Zealand has to step up it’s game, maybe even increasing filming incentives to keep The Hobbit in “Middle Earth.”

UPDATE: A rep from the actors union has guaranteed that no further action will be taken against the production saying, “We’ve given producers unconditional assurances no action will be taken.” This is a good sign, still no word from the WB.

UPDATE: After an initial meeting with the WB John Key has said that the chances of The Hobbit staying in the country as still about 50/50, and that New Zealand can’t match other foreign bids for the production. However, he stated that there are some things they can do “that might make the deal slightly better.” He went on to say that if the strike hadn’t occurred “they would have pulled the trigger on these movies months ago.” This isn’t exactly what fans wanted to hear, but Key will continue to meet with officials and expects a decision by the end of the week.

UPDATE: In a recent press conference New Zealand Prime Minister John Key stated that The Hobbit films WILL stay in the country. A deal featuring an increased incentive package for the WB and new legislation concerning the unionizing of industry workers will be passed. It all seems very old school Hollywood, and rather grim for the state of unions in the country, but at least PJ’s worries are over for now, I hope. Details can be found here.

Watch the below video in which a visibly angry Peter Jackson explains how the situation has possibly destroyed Hollywood’s faith in the New Zealand film industry which he helped build.

I personally can’t imagine the films being shot anywhere other than New Zealand, which in and of itself was a huge character in The Lord of the Rings films. Part of the magic would be gone. The only upside to all of this is the fact that the behind the scenes documentaries on The Hobbit DVDs might even top the ones on Rings.

The main question I’ve had since the start of the problems is whether or not Peter Jackson’s direction will be negatively effected by the stress of the situation. He has gone there and more, but will he be able to come back again? I hope so, because my fandom for the series has nearly turned into a form of guilt.

Stay tuned for an update to this article with the final verdict for The Hobbit.