Union bosses receive threats over ‘The Hobbit’

LONDON - Union bosses and actors at the centre of the recent dispute over J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” have contacted police after receiving death threats in the wake of the industrial action.

“The Lord of the Rings” prequel was thrown into jeopardy when unions in New Zealand instigated a boycott in a disagreement over performers’ rights, and studio bosses threatened to scrap plans to film in the country. The industrial action was lifted last month and movie bosses reached a deal to keep “The Hobbit” in the country, but some of the main players in the dispute have now become embroiled in a police investigation after receiving a number of threatening phone calls, reports contactmusic.com.

New Zealand actors Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Robyn Malcolm have allegedly been targeted along with Australian union boss Simon Whipp, head of the country’s Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, and Actors’ Equity organiser Frances Walsh.

A police investigation has been launched in Sydney, Australia.