A 120-page draft of the script was written by September 2006. In April 2007, the script was completed by Jackson, Walsh and Boyens; Jackson intended to direct. The three producers began seeking a studio partner to finance the film adaptation. Besides the major studios, smaller companies including United Artists were also contacted. New Line Cinema was excluded from negotiations because of Jackson's legal dispute with the studio over royalties from his "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Jackson sought a beginning $65 million budget for "The Lovely Bones", also requesting from studios what kind of promotional commitments and suggestions they would make for the film adaptation.