Given the look of his résumé over the past decade, it seems Peter Jackson would want to capitalize on the big-budget behemoths that have made him a marquee director. Instead, just the opposite is true. The "Lord of the Rings" auteur told The New Zealand Herald that more Hollywood blockbusters are not in his plans after the "Hobbit" series finishes its rollout.


Jackson wants to stick around New Zealand, where he filmed the "LOTR" and "Hobbit" franchises, to work on projects there. The director said he and partner Fran Walsh, who's written and produced most of Jackson's films, have some "New Zealand stories" up their sleeves.


"We have got a few bits and pieces that we are working on, Fran and I," Jackson said. "We just want to step off the Hollywood blockbuster thing for a while and we've had a few New Zealand stories in line for a while that we think would make great films. ... In some respects in terms of my remaining filmmaking career, this was a five-year chunk that was kind of taken out of it unexpectedly. My future is five years less than I thought it was. I thought if I am going to do that I am actually going to enjoy it. I am going to have fun. Hopefully, that is reflected on the screen, too."


That means we could see him return to the indie roots that inaugurated his career, a la 1994's acclaimed "Heavenly Creatures." Once he launched into the first "Lord of the Rings" entry, released in 2001, Jackson populated his film slate with other tentpole movies like "King Kong," made for $207 million, and "The Lovely Bones," made for $65 million. Even 2009's Best Picture-nominated "District 9," which Jackson produced and was budgeted at just $30 million, went on to gross monstrous numbers at the box office.


What exactly these New Zealand flicks will look like is yet to be seen, as Jackson's forthcoming projects are still in keeping with his big-budget penchants. After the third "Hobbit" release arrives in 2014, the following year will find Jackson helming the next entry in the "Adventures of Tintin" franchise. A third "Tintin" is also on the horizon.


At one point, the director did say he was eyeing a movie about World War I's Battle of Gallipoli. That was quite some time ago, though, and whether it could qualify as either a "New Zealand story" or a "Heavenly Creatures"-esque indie seems unlikely.


For more on Jackson's filmmaking future, head over to The New Zealand Herald.




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  • "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" World Premiere


    WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 28: Martin Freeman arrives at the 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' World Premiere at Embassy Theatre on November 28, 2012 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)




  • Peter Jackson


    Director Peter Jackson, right, poses with his daughter Katie on the red carpet at the premiere of his new film "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Martin Freeman


    Martin Freeman who plays Bilbo Baggins poses on the red carpet for the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at Embassy Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • James Nesbitt


    Cast members James Nesbitt who plays Bofur, left, and Canadian actress Evangeline Lilly pose on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Adam Brown


    Cast member Adam Brown who plays Ori, poses on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Evangeline Lilly


    Cast member Canadian actress Evangeline Lilly waves to audience on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Barry Humphries


    Cast member Barry Humphries who plays Great Goblin on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Sylvester McCoy


    Sylvester McCoy who plays Radagast on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Andy Serkis


    Cast member Andy Serkis, right, and his wife Loraine Ashbourne pose on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Richard Armitage


    Cast member Richard Armitage poses on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Mark Hadlow


    Cast member Mark Hadlow poses on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Martin Freeman, Peter Jackson


    Cast member Martin Freeman, left, embraces director Peter Jackson at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Richard Armitage


    Cast member Richard Armitage poses on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Hugo Weaving, James Nesbitt


    Cast members Hugo Weaving, left, and James Nesbitt pose on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Elijah Wood


    Elijah Wood who plays Frodo poses on his arrival for the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at Embassy Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • Cate Blanchett


    Cast member Cate Blanchett poses on the red carpet at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," at the Embassy Theatre, in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT




  • "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" World Premiere


    WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 28: Director Sir Peter Jackson emerges from from a Hobbit house before delivering a speech at the 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' World Premiere at Embassy Theatre on November 28, 2012 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)




  • "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" World Premiere


    WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 28: Jed Brophy, who plays Nori, arrives at the 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' World Premiere at Embassy Theatre on November 28, 2012 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)




  • "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" World Premiere


    WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 28: Dean O'Gorman, who plays Fili, arrives at the 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' World Premiere at Embassy Theatre on November 28, 2012 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)




  • NZEALAND-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-HOBBIT


    Actress Evangeline Lilly arrives for the world premiere of 'The Hobbit' movie in Courtenay Place in Wellington on November 28, 2012. Huge crowds swarmed into central Wellington on November 28 for the world premiere of Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit', an event that has sparked Middle Earth mania in New Zealand. AFP PHOTO / Marty Melville (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images)




  • "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" World Premiere


    WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 28: Cate Blanchett arrives at the 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' World Premiere at Embassy Theatre on November 28, 2012 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)




  • "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" World Premiere


    WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 28: Evangeline Lilly arrives at the 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' World Premiere at Embassy Theatre on November 28, 2012 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)




  • NZEALAND-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-HOBBIT


    Actor Andy Serkis walks out onto the stage at the world premiere of 'The Hobbit' movie in Courtenay Place in Wellington on November 28, 2012. Huge crowds swarmed into central Wellington on November 28 for the world premiere of Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit', an event that has sparked Middle Earth mania in New Zealand. AFP PHOTO / Marty Melville (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images)




  • "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" World Premiere


    WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 28: Elijah Wood arrives at the 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' World Premiere at Embassy Theatre on November 28, 2012 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)




  • "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" World Premiere


    WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 28: Director Sir Peter Jackson arrives at the 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' World Premiere at Embassy Theatre on November 28, 2012 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)




  • NZEALAND-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-HOBBIT


    Director James Cameron (R) and Suzy Amis pose for a photo upon their arrival at the world premiere of 'The Hobbit' movie in Courtenay Place in Wellington on November 28, 2012. Huge crowds swarmed into central Wellington on November 28 for the world premiere of Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit', an event that has sparked Middle Earth mania in New Zealand. AFP PHOTO / Marty Melville (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images)




  • NZEALAND-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-HOBBIT


    Actor Andy Serkis who plays the character Gollum speaks to reporters at the world premiere of 'The Hobbit' movie in Courtenay Place in Wellington on November 28, 2012. Huge crowds swarmed into central Wellington on November 28 for the world premiere of Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit', an event that has sparked Middle Earth mania in New Zealand. AFP PHOTO / Marty Melville (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images)




  • NZEALAND-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-HOBBIT


    Actress Cate Blanchett speaks upon her arrival at the world premiere of 'The Hobbit' movie in Courtenay Place in Wellington on November 28, 2012. Huge crowds swarmed into central Wellington on November 28 for the world premiere of Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit', an event that has sparked Middle Earth mania in New Zealand. AFP PHOTO / Marty Melville (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images)




  • "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" World Premiere


    WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 28: Sylvester McCoy, who plays wizard Radagast the Brown, arrives at the 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' World Premiere at Embassy Theatre on November 28, 2012 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)