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June 05, 2007 - June 13, 2007

News for Jun. 13, 2007

Jeffrey Steefel Interview

6/13/07, 7:20 pm EST - Xoanon

Steve writes: One of my favorite podcasts (Gamers With Jobs Conference Call) has a great interview with Jeffrey Steefel, the executive producer for Lord of The Rings Online. There's some good info in there about where the game is headed and what the game might have been. He actually talked about Mordor, which was cool, because I really wanted to know if we were ever going to end up there. [More]

News for Jun. 12, 2007

The Frodo Franchise

6/12/07, 10:40 pm EST - Xoanon

Kristin Thompson writes: After several months of raised and dashed hopes, the question of who will direct the film of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit remains open. I first weighed in on the question back on October 2 of last year, when this blog was in its infancy. MGM had just announced that they would be making The Hobbit and hoped that Peter Jackson would direct. At that point I was trying to sort out Peter Jackson’s large number of film projects and to explain how his schedule might include time to direct The Hobbit. Subsequently there was a clarification. MGM, which owns the distribution rights to any film version of the novel, would co-produce with New Line, which produced The Lord of the Rings and owns the filmmaking rights for The Hobbit. [More]

Fellowship rules in 'Lord of the Rings Online'

6/12/07, 10:37 pm EST - Xoanon

If ever there was a massively multiplayer role-playing game to take the uninitiated by the hand and lead the way, it’s Turbine's “The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar.” Part of the game’s welcoming nature owes thanks to its source, the undisputed godfather of fantasy fiction, J. R. R. Tolkien. (Did anyone not have to read “The Hobbit” in high school?) And whether you went on to read the whole “Lord of the Rings” series or see the movies, it doesn’t matter. You can still enjoy “Lord of the Rings Online,” even if you don’t know the difference between a Hobbit and a ham sandwich. [More]

'WaterHorse' Teaser On YouTube

6/12/07, 5:51 pm EST - Xoanon

A poster on YouTube has put up a special teaser cut together for the Rock Ness Music Festival. TORN's good friend and producer Barrie Osborne, who also produced the LOTR trilogy, and director Jay Russell have adapted Dick King-Smith's classic novel about the Loch Ness Monster into a full length feature film. Take a look! [More]

Weisz in for 'Lovely Bones'

6/12/07, 3:20 pm EST - Xoanon

Rachel Weisz is set to star in "The Lovely Bones," the Peter Jackson-directed adaptation of the Alice Sebold novel. DreamWorks begins production on the film in October, and Paramount Pictures will distribute worldwide. [More]

Actors' lawsuit against New Line has 'absolutely nothing' to do with Jackson's

6/12/07, 2:54 pm EST - MrCere

The suit filed by fifteen New Zealand actors over money possibly owed them in a contract dispute involving merchandising has nothing at all to do with New Line's famous dispute with Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson according to the actor who instigated the action. New Zealand actor Bruce Hopkins (Gamling) informed TheOneRing.net exclusively that the whole suit came about because of a clause in his contract that he took seriously enough to bring to the attention of a lawyer. Read the rest of the story and Hopkins' comments here

SHOP: Pre-Order Aragorn VS Uruk-Hai - The Walls of Helm's Deep

6/12/07, 2:39 pm EST - Celeborn

The Walls of Helms DeepSideshow Collectibles has started taking pre-orders for their latest Lord of the Rings diorama - Aragorn VS Uruk-hai - The Walls of Helms Deep, based on the film adaptaion's battle at Helm's Deep. Compared to previous pieces, this one weighs approx 16lbs and is nearly 14" H and looks pretty darn impressive. It is estimated to ship at the end of the year (possibly in time for the Holidays?) Check out the full details through the link. [Pre-Order Today]

Children of Hurin Discussion begins today!

6/12/07, 12:11 am EST - Altaira

Have you finished reading The Children of Hurin and are dying to discuss it with other Tolkien fans? Or, do you need some motivation to crack open the book and start reading? Either way, the chapter-by-chapter discussion of The Children of Hurin, starting today in our Reading Room forum, is for you! We'll be covering a chapter a week. Each week's discussion will be led by a member of the Message Boards, and we still have openings for discussion leaders. Follow these links to read the start of the discussion, or check out the Children of Hurin discussion schedule.

Not a member of the Message Boards yet? Sign up now and join the fun! Tolkien veterans and novices welcome!

News for Jun. 11, 2007

TV Watch: 'Figwit' on Letterman

6/11/07, 10:54 am EST - Xoanon

Brent Mackenzie, otherwise known as 'Figwit' to the legions of girlie-fans out there, will be on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' tonight on CBS. He is there with his band 'Flight of the Conchords', who have a new show on HBO. Take a look at 'The Late Show with David Letterman' on CBS at 11:35PM tonight!

DVD Tuesday: Ghost Rider, Breach, Primeval & More!

6/11/07, 10:41 am EST - Xoanon

Take an early look on our 'DVD Tuesday' feature...every Monday! There are a whole slew of amazing DVDs out tomorrow, take a look at some TV goodies like; 'Deadwood - The Complete Third Season' & 'Welcome Back Kotter:First Season'. Some new collection DVDs include 'James Stewart: Screen Legend Collection' & 'John Wayne: Screen Legend Collection' The big releases of of the week include; 'Ghost Rider', 'Primeval' & 'Breach'. The HD DVD crowd get a few good titles this week with 'Born on the 4th of July' & 'Bruce Almighty'. The Blu ray gurus get 'Music and Lyrics' and others. Check out the whole list here! [More]

News for Jun. 10, 2007

'I'm mocked as the idiot who got involved in The Lord of the Rings'

6/10/07, 1:19 pm EST - Xoanon

Deep in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, a creaky network of girders and cantilevers has supported theatrical spectacle ever since the building reopened in 1812. But this Grade I-listed temple of illusion has never witnessed anything quite as ambitious the show that began previewing there last month. The Lord of the Rings, the three-hour, £12.5 million musical that opens on June 19, relies for at least some of its visual coups on the most complex engineering ever assembled under any stage. It doesn't look like much from the gantry alongside: a huge drum. But inside is a carousel of moving parts that allows 17 separate sections of the revolving stage to rise and fall in seemingly infinite permutations, to make the bridges, mountains, valleys and ramparts of Middle-earth. This groundbreaking piece of kit has dominated rehearsals, says the director, Matthew Warchus. Everything - music, choreography, lighting, sound design and (last but hopefully not least) actors - must be synchronised to the motions of the floor. [More]

Ringing the changes

6/10/07, 1:17 pm EST - Xoanon

If they gave out Olivier Awards for bravery, the producer Kevin Wallace would win hands-down. It’s not just because of the insane task he set himself: taking a 1,200-page epic with mighty battles, ungodly creatures and a core cast of a dozen characters that on the big screen took ten hours and three films to tell, and compressing it into just three hours on a single stage. With songs. It’s because when his multimillion-dollar The Lord of the Ringsextravaganza opened in Toronto last year to, let us diplomatically say, less than universal rapture, he remained cool under fire. [More]

News for Jun. 08, 2007

Peter Jackson does animated Halo series - UPDATE

6/08/07, 4:41 pm EST - Xoanon

Word on the street is that there is NO Halo animated project being made with Peter Jackson. Despite earlier reports to the contrary. Sometimes cool news is just too good to be true!

DragonCon's Tolkien track wants your fan films!

6/08/07, 3:33 pm EST - MrCere

The all-Tolkien-all-the-time portion of DragonCon 2007 wants your fan-films. The massive annual event held in Atlanta each year wants to showcase the many talented fan films out in the world made as an ode to the LOTR books or films. If you know of anyone making Tolkien-related fan films (or happen to be a Tolkien fan film maker yourself) please nudge them (or yourself) in the general direction of the Tolkien Track for Dragon con found here. Thanks!

Weta Press: FMOM Pre ordering opens

6/08/07, 12:38 pm EST - Xoanon

Weta Limited will open pre-ordering for the F.M.O.M. Industries Wave Disrupter Gun to their VIP members on Friday 15 June. Pre-ordering for members of the public will open exactly one week later, on Friday 22 June. [More]

Lord of the Rings Online Update: New Evendim Wallpapers!

6/08/07, 12:24 pm EST - Xoanon

Vanessa "Saffron" Price, Online Community Representative for The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar writes: Decorate your screens with these shiny new Evendim Wallpapers! [More]

Peter Jackson does animated Halo series

6/08/07, 12:18 pm EST - Xoanon

From computerandvideogames.com: Microsoft's Shane Kim may have accidentally dropped more info on Peter Jackon's mysterious Halo project, which he's referred to as the Halo "animated series". When asked if Bungie already has a post-Halo 3 project in line, the Microsoft Game Studios boss told GameSpy: "Oh yeah. Bungie has their plans well mapped out. You have to, when you have a studio like that, and you need to know what you're moving your people on to. So they have the collaboration with Peter Jackson on the animated series. "I'm not sure about the specifics. They'll be done with Halo 3 this year, but we haven't announced any dates on the Halo 3 series." [More]

Xoanon here, I will be trying to get independent confirmation from the man himself later today!

News for Jun. 06, 2007

Christopher Lee to Receive Career Award at Portuguese Film Fest

6/06/07, 10:25 pm EST - Xoanon

Bidu writes: The 23rd edition of the Portuguese Festróia Cinema Festival (June 1st-10th), will honour Christopher Lee with a Career Award this year. The full article (in Portuguese) can be found here.

Celebrating 50 Years of Tolkien at Marquette

6/06/07, 10:23 pm EST - Xoanon

Matt Blessing, head of The Department of Special Collections and University Archives, writes: June 7th marks the 50th anniversary of Marquette University acquiring the literary manuscripts of J.R.R. Tolkien. More information about the anniversary, new materials in the collection, and details about an upcoming presentation by John Rateliff, may be accessed online here.

Anyone UK Bound?

6/06/07, 10:21 pm EST - Xoanon

Celebriel writes: Anyone headed to London this summer to see "The Lord of the Rings" musical or Orlando Bloom in "In Celebration" should check flights on Virgin Airways - they are offering free LOTR amenity kits on flights to the UK in economy, including a travel wallet with a Lord of the Rings bag tag, "Precious Sleep" eyeshades, socks adorned with a quote from Gandalf, and a limited edition gold pen. [More]

Robot Reptile "Released" Into Wild to Aid Breeding Research

6/06/07, 10:14 pm EST - Xoanon

On Stephens Island in New Zealand's storm-wracked Cook Strait, the tuatara—one of the most ancient reptile species on Earth—is getting a hand from distinctly 21st-century science (see a New Zealand map). Researchers have placed in the wild a very special male that, like its wild cousins, can put on physical displays to establish its dominance. But this reptile's skin is made of rubber, not scales, and its "heart" is a nickel-cadmium battery. The alpha male in question is "Robo-Ollie," a robotic tuatara created to help researchers understand the behavior of these rare reptiles, the last species in a family that dates back 200 million years. [More]

A giant in the world of dragons

6/06/07, 10:13 pm EST - Xoanon

Don't believe the mockers. The latest posthumous work of Tolkien is a masterpiece around the Wagnerian or Sophoclean theme of unconscious incest. Dragon slayers are of perennial fascination, whether they be Saint Michael the Archangel, Bel, Saint George or Perseus killing the sea monster that holds Andromeda prisoner. Modern literature has Ged, the Wizard of Earthsea, banishing the Dragon of Pendor from Ursula le Guin's Archipelago; or even Harry Potter thrusting his sword through the mouth of the Basilisk. Yet there is no dragon of whom I have read, or whom I have seen on stage - not Fafner himself in Siegfried - who is quite so frightening as Glaurung, the dragon in JRR Tolkien's The Children of Hurim. [More]

News for Jun. 05, 2007

LOTR Online Updates

6/05/07, 1:23 pm EST - Xoanon

Two bits of news from the world of 'The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar': Take a closer look at the greatest of the Nine—the formidable Witch-king of Angmar! [More]

Today, Turbine, Inc. and Codemasters Online Gaming announced the details of the first free update for subscribers to The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™, the #1 selling PC title in North America, Germany, UK and France. Book 9: Shores of Evendim, the first of many planned free updates to the world of Middle-earth, introduces an entirely new landscape region, over 100 additional quests, the battle for Helegrod raid, nine new monsters and major enhancements to monster play and the music system. [More]


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