 Miramax was the first studio to express an interest in  Peter Jackson (I) (qv)s interpretation of the books but wanted to  do it all in one film. Jackson refused, leaving him with four weeks  to find another studio for funding, touting the project as two  films. Calling upon his friend Mark Ordesky (qv), who was an  executive at New Line, a pitch was set up with New Line President  Robert Shaye (qv). His only quibble with the presentation was that  it had to be three films.