Peter Jackson Says ‘Tintin’ Sequel is the “Next Film I’ll Direct”

Peter Jackson, who hasn’t directed a feature (not counting his excellent docs) in over 12 years, has confirmed to Gold Derby that he’s coming back, and the “next film” he’s making will be that ‘Adventures of Tintin’ sequel.

Jackson adds that he recently “wrapped up” the script with partner Fran Walsh.

"Fran 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," Jackson tells Gold Derby. "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 I’ll direct is a Tintin movie."

Jackson’s last film as a director was 2014’s “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.” Twelve years of inactivity is a long time for a filmmaker, especially one who could seemingly get almost any film he wants greenlit.

So, why has Jackson not directed a film in twelve years? He recently admitted that the loss of his longtime cinematographer Andrew Lesnie prevented him from wanting to return. He felt he could not trust another DP after that, adding that the partnership with Lesnie shaped every visual decision in his films.

It’s not like the first Tintin made much money in the U.S., but it was a huge hit in France. It was actually back in 2018 that co-producer Spielberg announced Jackson’s intent to direct “Tintin 2.” Since then, the project has been in a long dormant state.

The sequel would be based on two source materials: “The Adventures of Tintin: Prisoners of the Sun,” “The Seven Crystal Balls,” and “The Temple of the Sun.” The 2011 film did the same thing by adapting three books: “The Secret of the Unicorn,” “The Crab with the Golden Claws,” and “Red Rackham’s Treasure.”

Save for the six “The Lord of the Rings”and “The Hobbit” movies, Jackson’s pre-hibernation filmography includes “Heavenly Creatures” (underrated!), “King Kong,” “Bad Taste,” “The Frighteners,” and “The Lovely Bones.”