Universal goes ape for Jackson

In what is described as one of the largest deals ever made with a director, Universal will pay Peter Jackson $20 million against 20% of the gross to remake “King Kong,” Daily Variety reported Tuesday.

But Jackson won’t pocket all the money, the trade paper said. His deal also covers his writing-producing partners, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, with whom he collaborated on the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

Universal is hoping to release the new “King Kong” for Christmas 2005.