Peter Jackson insists his camera is far from packed away. Speaking after a decade-long break from narrative features, the Oscar-winner said he is “currently writing three different screenplays” and dismissed talk of retirement. At the same time, Jackson and partner Fran Walsh have invested about $15 million in a bid to recreate the giant moa, a 10-to-12-foot flightless bird that vanished from New Zealand around 600 years ago.
The director’s update, first reported by Variety, clarifies that his film work continues in parallel with the de-extinction project. He described screenwriting sessions that run alongside producing duties on The Hunt for Gollum and ongoing Beatles-related documentaries.
According to the Associated Press, Jackson began collecting moa bones years ago and now holds roughly 300-400 specimens, making him an ideal backer for Colossal Biosciences, the Texas startup driving the research.
Scientists plan to compare ancient DNA to that of living relatives such as the emu and tinamou, using gene-editing tools to grow a bird that replicates moa traits. Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s chief scientist, called the effort a “long-term, multi-stage experiment” that begins with finding well-preserved bones.
Scepticism remains. Duke University ecologist Stuart Pimm questioned where a bird “with huge feet and claws” would live and warned that headline-grabbing revivals could overshadow conservation of species still at risk. Colossal says it will support habitat restoration in New Zealand while research continues.
Jackson last directed a feature in 2014 with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, though his 2021 Beatles docuseries Get Back showcased a shift toward archival storytelling. His twin pursuits—new screenplays and a bird once thought lost forever—signal a career branching in two ambitious directions, neither of which points toward retirement.
