Peter Jackson, renowned for directing the Lord of the Rings trilogy, is embroiled in a dispute in New Zealand due to the impending closure of a popular cafe. The filmmaker owns the land where the cafe is located, having reportedly decided to end its lease as part of a larger redevelopment initiative.
In 2023, Peter Jackson acquired the historic Submarine Barracks property on the Wellington peninsula, alongside his partner Fran Walsh. They had expressed intentions to restore its natural beauty.
The Chocolate Fish Cafe, which has been a staple at this historic site, announced they would close following news of their lease being terminated in January, calling it a “devastating blow”.
Through a heartfelt social media statement, the cafe owners pleaded for a chance to converse with Jackson and Fran, expressing their desire to remain open: “We don’t want to be forced to close. We don’t want to be shut down.”
Nevertheless, WingNut PM, the property arm of Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh’s WingNut Group, indicated that discussions regarding occupancy had been ongoing since 2024.
Peter Jackson embarked on his filmmaking journey with the 1987 slapstick comedy, Bad Taste. His major breakthrough came with Heavenly Creatures in 1995, which earned him an Oscar nomination. He later directed the Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003), which grossed nearly $3 billion globally and won 17 Oscars. Following that, he adapted King Kong and returned to J.R.R. Tolkien’s world with The Hobbit trilogy (2012-2014), which also saw over $2.9 billion in box office success.
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