Parker’s representative said Wednesday he had
no further comment on the purchase.
Weta employs about 1,550 people and is based
in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington. Company
records indicate Jackson and collaborators
Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens own just over
two-thirds of the company. Weta will issue new
shares for Parker, diluting Jackson’s stake.
Jackson could not be reached for comment.
In June, Weta appointed Parker’s business
associate Prem Akkaraju as chief executive and
said it would begin producing original content
for the first time in its 25-year history.
In 2016, Parker and Akkaraju founded a video-
on-demand startup called Screening Room,
which this year relaunched as SR Labs.Image: Jordan Strauss