By Ben Travis | Posted 13 May 2019

Peter Jackson knows a thing or two about bringing an epic, fantastical world to the big screen – the Kiwi filmmaker gave JRR Tolkien’s Middle-earth life on the big screen in a way that few would have thought possible. In recent years, Jackson has taken a break from blockbusters with World War I documentary They Shall Not Grow Old, and his upcoming Beatles doc on the way – but it’s not for lack of offers.

Speaking to Empire in the Spider-Man: Far From Home issue, Jackson revealed that he was offered the chance to direct Aquaman twice by former Warner Bros CEO Kevin Tsujihara – but turned it down both times. “He said, ‘Are you a fan of Aquaman?’ I said, ‘No.’ Six months later: ‘Peter, are you a fan of Aquaman?’ I said, ’No, Kevin, I already told you this’,” Jackson recalls. “I’m not a superhero guy. I read Tintin… Look, films are hard. I only want to make something that I have a deep passion for.” It seems for now, Jackson is more than content working on his documentaries, telling Empire: “I don’t really anticipate making another theatrical film for a year or two.”

As much as Jackson isn't a superhero guy, it's easy to see why his name would be in the mix for Arthur Curry's undersea adventure, with its dazzling submarine world of Atlantis and shark-riding fantasy battles. Still, James Wan proved more than adept at handling DC's wet and wild comic book movie.

Empire’s summer issue includes an Empire 30 celebration of Peter Jackson himself – including a career-spanning interview, and the director answering your questions in The People Vs. Peter Jackson. Oh, and we were granted access to his epic personal geek vault, stuffed with iconic movie memorabilia. Read it all when the magazine hits newsstands on Thursday 16 May.

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