Eighteen members on the cast of Lord of the Rings rebelled against film studio New Line over bonus payments, according to Newsweek magazine.

The actors - none of whom have been named - are said to have complained that their bonus payments for the second film were smaller than that of the first, despite its greater box office sales.

The magazine claims that the revolt began when the actors discovered that some people had been excluded from the payments, which are made for promotional work and premieres.

One actor has apparently struck a deal with the studio to create a "bonus pool" for the third film, meaning that any extra payments will be shared amongst the cast.

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King opens worldwide on December 17.