Peter Jackson ends his 12-year absence with a massive sequel

Peter Jackson hasn't directed a movie in 12 years. Ghosted Middle Earth, ghosted Hollywood entirely, and now he's finally coming back. But not for the fantasy epic everyone assumed, for a sequel 15 years overdue and one Belgian reporter fans never stopped waiting on. Jackson's last narrative feature was The Hobbit, the Battle of the Five Armies in 2014, and since then he's mostly lived in documentary land, directing They Shall Not Grow Old and The Beatles. Get back instead. Turns out the real reason is more emotional than expected. Jackson revealed his longtime cinematographer Andrew Lesney passed away, and losing that partnership made him reluctant to trust anyone else the same way. That grief quietly shaped an entire decade of his career. Peter Jackson is officially breaking that streak, confirming to Gold Darby his next directing project is Tinted 2. The plan was always for him and Spielberg to swap roles this time, Jackson directing while Spielberg produced. That handoff sat frozen for 15 years, and Jackson joked about the absurd weight himself. The good news? Jackson and writing partner Fran Walsh just wrapped the completed script, picking up right where The Secret of the Unicorn left off. Fans are already speculating it could adapt The Seven Crystal Balls and Prisoners of the Sun, two stories Jackson has named as personal favorites. And Jackson isn't easing back into filmmaking cold either, he's currently producing The Lord of the Rings The Hunt for Gollum, which just started shooting under director Andy Serkis, who's also reprising his iconic role, aiming for a December 2027 release. That project is basically Jackson's toe back in the water, before diving fully into directing again himself. No production timeline exists yet for Tinted 2, and the script still needs Spielberg's approval before moving forward, but considering how long this sequel has been stuck in limbo, simply having a finished script feels like genuine progress worth celebrating. 12 years of silence, 15 years of waiting, and one heartbreaking reason behind it all, Jackson's comeback might finally be here. Are you more excited for Tinted 2 or The Hunt for Gollum? Tell us below.