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When Peter Jackson made the 'Lord of the Rings' movies, I remember there was a concern that people who didn't read Tolkien wouldn't go see the first one. But the films were so good in their own right that the audience grew beyond the readership of the book.

Peter Jackson is a wonderful man. He's a great director. He's found his niche in life.

I think even back as far as 'Lord of the Rings,' there was always the chance that 'The Hobbit' would be made, even way back then. Of course at that point, Peter Jackson didn't probably think at that point that he'd be directing it.

Peter Jackson has just really earned the right to be Tolkien's torchbearer on screen.

Working with and collaborating with and for Peter Jackson was an incredible experience because he is such a phenomenal filmmaker.

I didn't want to be known as a man who only made horror films. I made some - very few.

Horror movies, man, the blood entails so much time. And horror movies are not fun; definitely not starting there as a director. Definitely not horror.

I thought that there might be something unsatisfying about directing two Tolkien movies after 'Lord of the Rings.' I'd be trying to compete with myself and deliberately doing things differently.

How stupid do you have to be to imagine that you can turn 'The Lord Of The Rings' into a film script?

I am a fan of the monster and horror genre but that's not my style as a director.