If I were Peter Jackson I'd be rather afraid of those die-hard supporters. I mean the ones who insist that only he can direct
The Hobbit, and that they'll refuse to see it if anyone else does.
I can see them turning on him viciously if the film doesn't live up to their expectations– and arguably,
nothing will. I know the capitals-and-exclamation-points crowd. (Some of my best friends, etc...) Honestly, some of them are going to be deeply disappointed if
The Hobbit doesn't incorporate their way-out personal theories about Middle-earth (these having nothing to do with anything Tolkien wrote, and very little to do with the LotR movies either).
I would say New Line is paying attention to all these protests, but also that they're taking them with a grain of salt. Do you really think nearly half of the movie-going public will stay home if
The Hobbit has a different director?