Common questions about Peter Jackson

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was Peter Jackson born and where did he grow up?

Peter Jackson was born on the 31st of October 1961 in Wellington, New Zealand. He grew up in the northern suburb of Pukerua Bay with parents who were English immigrants named Joan and William Jackson.

What was Peter Jackson's first feature film and when was it released?

Peter Jackson's first feature film was Bad Taste, which was released in 1987. The film was a haphazard splatter comedy about aliens turning humans into food that was shot on weekends while he worked full-time.

How did Peter Jackson win the rights to film The Lord of the Rings?

Peter Jackson won the rights to film J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings in 1997. He initially worked with Miramax before a last-minute deal with New Line Cinema allowed him to produce a trilogy.

What documentary did Peter Jackson release in 2018 about World War I?

Peter Jackson released They Shall Not Grow Old in 2018, a documentary about the First World War that used original footage from the Imperial War Museums archive. The film was broadcast on BBC Two on the 11th of November 2018, the hundredth anniversary of the Armistice of World War I.

When did Peter Jackson become a billionaire and what company did he sell?

Peter Jackson became a billionaire in 2021 by selling WETA to Unity Technologies. WETA was an interactive 3D gaming business that he had founded and grown into a major force in digital and physical effects.

Who are Peter Jackson's children and have they appeared in his films?

Peter Jackson's eldest son Billy was born in 1995 and his daughter Katie was born in 1996. Both children have made cameo appearances in almost every one of his father's films since their birth.