Could Peter Jackson's version of The Hobbitattract any more trouble? Following the news that director Guillermo del Toro was to leave the production and the intelligence that Martin Freeman might not be available for the lead, it has now transpired that the major acting unions have told members not to work on the picture.

"The makers of feature film The Hobbit– to be shot in New Zealand next year – have refused to engage performers on unionnegotiated agreements," the union "member alert" said. "Members of Canadian Actors Equity, US Actors Equity, the Screen Actors Guild, UK Actors Equity, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (Australia) and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists are advised not to accept work on this non-union production. If you are contacted to be engaged on The Hobbit, please notify your union
immediately." Oh dear.