Peter Jackson Confirms His First Movie in Over a Decade Is Happening, but It’s Probably Not the Comeback I Was Hoping For

For years, Peter Jackson fans have wondered what his next narrative feature would be.

After wrapping up The Hobbit trilogy, the Oscar-winning filmmaker shifted his attention to acclaimed documentaries like They Shall Not Grow Old and The Beatles: Get Back.

Now, Jackson has confirmed he’s finally preparing to direct another feature film. Surprisingly, it isn’t an original project or a return to Middle-earth. It’s The Adventures of Tintin 2, a sequel that’s been sitting on the shelf for nearly 15 years.

During an interview with Gold Derby, Jackson revealed that the long-discussed sequel is finally moving forward, at least creatively.

“Fran [Walsh] and I have been writing a script for the next Tintin film because 15 years ago, Steven Spielberg directed a Tintin film and I produced it.”

“The idea was that then I was supposed to go straight onto a second one, and we’d swap the roles, so I’d direct the second one and he’d produce it.

“It’s just taken 15 years to get there, unfortunately, a bit late. But it’s a timeless story. So we just wrapped up. So probably the next film that I’d actually direct is a Tintin movie.”

That confirmation is exciting. Jackson hasn’t directed a narrative feature since The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies in 2014, so hearing that he’s finally getting back into filmmaking is welcome news.

That said, I have mixed feelings. I enjoyed Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin. It was a fun, energetic adventure that captured the spirit of Hergé’s beloved comics, and over the years it’s become one of the more underrated entries in Spielberg’s filmography.

But if you’re telling me Peter Jackson is finally directing another movie after more than a decade, Tintin 2 probably wouldn’t have been anywhere near the top of my wish list.

I’d much rather see Jackson take a swing at something completely original again. Better yet, I’d love to see him revisit the genre that launched his career.

Before The Lord of the Rings turned him into one of Hollywood’s biggest filmmakers, Jackson built his reputation on wildly inventive horror films like Bad Taste, Meet the Feebles, and Braindead (Dead Alive).

Seeing him return to horror with the experience and resources he has today would be freakin’ awesome!

Instead, we’re getting a sequel to a movie that, while well-liked, never became the franchise many expected.

Released in 2011, Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin earned positive reviews and currently holds a 75% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Critics praised its thrilling, old-school sense of adventure and Spielberg’s knack for crafting exciting action sequences. Financially, though, the film landed in an awkward spot.

It earned $373.9 million worldwide against a reported $135 million budget. Those numbers aren’t bad, but they also weren’t the breakout success Paramount was likely hoping for, especially since only about 20.7% of its worldwide box office came from North America.

That’s what makes this sequel such an interesting proposition.

Tintin has certainly found more appreciation over the years, but it still isn’t a major draw for American audiences.

On top of that, the theatrical landscape has changed dramatically since 2011. Expensive effects-driven movies have become much riskier investments, and performance capture animation isn’t exactly cheap to produce.

Even though Jackson says the script is finished, that doesn’t mean cameras are about to start rolling.

The project still needs Paramount to give it the green light, and that’s far from guaranteed.

Jackson and Spielberg carry enormous respect within the industry, but studios are making very different financial decisions today than they were 15 years ago. Prestige alone doesn’t automatically secure a massive production budget anymore.

If The Adventures of Tintin had become a genuine blockbuster back in 2011, this sequel would probably already exist.

Instead, it’s spent a decade and a half sitting in development while the audience for the property has remained relatively niche.

I genuinely hope it happens because Jackson and Spielberg working together again is reason enough to be excited. If anyone can make a great Tintin movie, it’s those two.

Still, after waiting this long for Peter Jackson’s return to narrative filmmaking, I can’t help but wish his comeback looked a little different.

An original fantasy, a new science fiction epic, or even a gleefully over-the-top horror film would have felt like a more exciting next chapter for one of cinema’s most imaginative directors.

If Tintin 2 is the movie that gets Jackson back into the director’s chair, I’ll absolutely be there opening weekend.

I’m just hoping it isn’t another 10 years before we get to see what else he has up his sleeve.