Any word at this point on how the movies will perform at the box office is pure speculation, but it is clear that New Line’s hopes are high for the trilogy. Given all of the factors involved, including the proven talent of the cast and crew, the incredible special effects work, and the success and beloved status of the source material, it is difficult to imagine how the trilogy could end up not being a major hit. Fan expectations alone are already running high, and there is no doubt that many people will flock to see the films during the first couple of weeks of their run. How they fare at the box office after that point, especially with moviegoers who are not familiar with or interested in the works of Tolkien, will be based largely on critical reception and word-of-mouth. Expect a promotional blitz from New Line, and if the movies turn out to be as good as they potentially can be, it’s entirely possible that The Lord of the Rings trilogy could end up being ranked among the most financially successful movies of all time.

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Toy Biz, the toy manufacturing division of Marvel Enterprises, now owns the world licensing rights to products based on The Lord of the Rings trilogy, including action figures, dolls, remote controlled toys, and watches. These products will be available on the market at the time of the release of the first film. Other companies, including restaurant chains, are expected to jump in to get their piece of the Tolkien pie, and it's a safe bet that you can expect a flood of Tolkien-related items, toys, value meals, and collectibles on the market to tie in with the release of the movies. Of course, an even larger quantity of such items will be released if the films are as wildly successful as they very well could be.

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According to sources, the DVDs will feature interviews with the cast and crew, a "Making of" documentary, behind the scenes footage, and possibly out-takes. Also included will be the original 36-minute documentary that Jackson used to persuade New Line to invest in the film trilogy, which includes design sketches, CGI tests, location models, creature concept art, and test shots of Helm's Deep battles. It is likely that theatrical trailers and other standard DVD extras will be included as well. There is no information at this point regarding release dates for the DVDs, or whether they will be released individually or as a boxed set. If demand for the DVDs runs high enough, we will probably see individual DVD releases of each film, as well as a boxed set of the trilogy once all three films have completed their theatrical runs.

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Rumors have circulated regarding additional scenes being filmed and subsequently released on the DVD version, but there has been no official confirmation yet. The added expense of casting an additional actor for the part of Tom Bombadil and filming extra scenes may not be seen as a profitable enterprise by the production company.

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It’s very likely, since the marketers of the film trilogy seem poised to push the promotional tie-ins as far as possible. Expect to see merchandising of every kind once the movies hit theaters.

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