Tag: lord of the rings

Amazon Studios Releases First Series Image For THE LORD OF THE RINGS As It Wraps Filming In New Zealand – Premieres September 2

The highly anticipated, yet-to-be titled Amazon Original The Lord of the Rings television series will premiere Friday, September 2, 2022 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, with new episodes available weekly. Filming of Season One completed today in New Zealand.

The new epic drama brings to screens for the very first time J.R.R. Tolkien’s fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. Beginning in a time of relative peace, thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth.

Headlining this ensemble cast are Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Maxim Baldry, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Trystan Gravelle, Sir Lenny Henry, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, Leon Wadham, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman, and Sara Zwangobani.

The series is led by showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne & Patrick McKay; they are joined by executive producers Lindsey Weber, Callum Greene, J.A. Bayona, Belén Atienza, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Bruce Richmond, and Sharon Tal Yguado, co-executive producer Wayne Che Yip, director Charlotte Brändström, and producer Christopher Newman.

“The journey begins September 2, 2022 with the premiere of our original The Lord of the Rings series on Prime Video,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “I can’t express enough just how excited we all are to take our global audience on a new and epic journey through Middle-earth! Our talented producers, cast, creative, and production teams have worked tirelessly in New Zealand to bring this untold and awe-inspiring vision to life.” 

“As Bilbo says, ‘Now I think I am quite ready to go on another journey.’ Living and breathing Middle-earth these many months has been the adventure of a lifetime. We cannot wait for fans to have the chance to do so as well,” said Payne and McKay.

A world-renowned literary work, and winner of the International Fantasy Award and Prometheus Hall of Fame Award, The Lord of the Rings was named Amazon customers’ favorite book of the millennium in 1999 and Britain’s best-loved novel of all time in BBC’s The Big Read in 2003. The Lord of the Rings books has been translated into around 40 languages and has sold more than 150 million copies.

Advance Tickets On Sale For THE HOBBIT MOVIE Wednesday, Nov 7th; LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy Back In Theaters Dec 8-9

Moviegoers who are eagerly anticipating the December 14 release of the epic fantasy adventure THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, will be able to secure their seats over a month in advance when tickets go on sale, online and in theaters across North America, at 12:00pm Eastern Time, on Wednesday, November 7. See the 17 new posters HERE.

The film, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), is the first in Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated trilogy adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Being released domestically by Warner Bros. Pictures, all three films in THE HOBBIT Trilogy tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before THE LORD OF THE RINGS, which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar-winning THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING.

As part of the celebration, moviegoers will have the opportunity to re-experience Middle-earth in big screen marathons of THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy in their Extended Cut editions on Saturday, December 8, and Sunday, December 9. Tickets for these all-day events will also go on sale, online and in theaters throughout the U.S., at noon Eastern time on Wednesday, November 7.

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who joins the Wizard Gandalf and 13 Dwarves, led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield, on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug.

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. Also reprising their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” in “The Hobbit” Trilogy are: Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Ian Holm as the elder Bilbo; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The international ensemble cast of the trilogy also includes (in alphabetical order) Manu Bennett, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Barry Humphries, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott and Aidan Turner.

The screenplay for THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro. Jackson is also producing the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.

Under Jackson’s direction, “The Hobbit” Trilogy has been shot in 3D 48 frames-per-second and will be released in High Frame Rate 3D (HFR 3D), other 3D formats, IMAX and 2D. Production has taken place at Jackson’s own facilities in Miramar, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.

Among the creative behind-the-scenes team returning to Jackson’s crew were director of photography Andrew Lesnie, production designer Dan Hennah, conceptual designers Alan Lee and John Howe, composer Howard Shore and make-up and hair designer Peter King. The film is edited by Jabez Olssen. The costumes were designed by Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor and Bob Buck.

Taylor also oversaw the design and production of weaponry, armor and prosthetics, which were once again being made by the award-winning Weta Workshop. Weta Digital took on the visual effects for the films, led by the film’s visual effects supervisor, Joe Letteri. Post production is taking place at Park Road Post Production in Wellington.

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY and the second and third films of the trilogy are productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television distribution being handled by MGM.

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY will be released in the U.S. on December 14, 2012, with the second film, THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, releasing December 13, 2013, and the third film, THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN slated for July 18, 2014.

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NYCC 12: Saturday & Sunday Recap

Shockingly, I arrived for my second day at NYCC with enough time to walk around the convention a bit before my first & only scheduled interview for the weekend. I didn’t mention it in yesterday’s coverage because I wanted it to be a surprise but one of the reasons I headed home early after NYCC yesterday was to watch THE BAY. Why did I need to see this flick you may ask? Because my roundtable today was with the legendary Barry Levinson, director of THE BAY as well as some other flicks you might have heard of like RAIN MAN, DINER, and SPHERE. Speaking with him was an incredible experience and I will have a full recap of the roundtable posted soon.

At the roundtable I ran into Mike Spring of DVDSnapshot.com, who I first met at the convention a few years back. We chatted for a bit before I once again made my way to the show floor. Seeing the massive wait at the IGN theater and the general overcrowding of NYCC, I decided it would be best to skip the panels since they were going to be live-streamed anyway for anyone interested in checking them out. I also assumed they would be made available afterwards although that seems not to be the case, at least not officially.

While passing the Magnet Releasing booth, I saw that director Glenn McQuaid was signing posters for VHS. I stuck around for a few minutes to get a really quick interview, which you can check out right here:

After some more aimless roaming of the overcrowded show floor, I stopped by the Archaia Comics booth to say hi to our good friend Dan Fogler (FANBOYS, BALLS OF FURY). We talked about setting up an interview in about 2 weeks to discuss DON PEYOTE, as well as a plethora of other projects he is working on.

My Sunday at NYCC consisted of more of the same; navigating my way through waves of costumed fans eager to throw down hard-earned cash. The one exception being the hour or so I sat down for a panel. My first and only for this year was an impromptu panel hosted by Sean Astin, which was created last minute thanks to a petition he himself started. He was one of those people with a decent-sized line of fans waiting to meet him the past three days in the autograph area.

Watching Sean Astin take command of the whole room, telling incredibly detailed and personal stories about his entire career, I gained a newfound respect for the man. Unfortunately the panel ran long and I was unable to interview him afterwards as I had discussed with whoever was assisting him for the day. Shortly after, security began their “hard close” of the convention and I was yelled at for not exiting promptly.

Jerry Cavallaro – www.JerryCavallaro.com

Oscar Winner Peter Jackson To Direct THE HOBBIT In Two Installments

Well kids, it official. Here’s the press release from New Line/Warner Bros.

OSCAR WINNER PETER JACKSON TO DIRECT “THE HOBBIT” IN TWO INSTALLMENTS
Peter Jackson Set to Direct J.R.R Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” In a Two-Part 3D Production of Extraordinary Scope

(Los Angeles, October 15, 2010) The two films based on “The Hobbit” are now greenlit and will begin principal photography in February 2011, under the direction of Peter Jackson, it was jointly announced today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema, Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. and Steve Cooper, co-Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

“Exploring Tolkien’s Middle-earth goes way beyond a normal film-making experience” Jackson says, “It’s an all-immersive journey into a very special place of imagination, beauty and drama. We’re looking forward to re-entering this wondrous world with Gandalf and Bilbo – and our friends at New Line Cinema, Warner Brothers and MGM”.

“Peter is a filmmaker of incomparable ability; having him return to Middle-earth to produce and direct is a dream come true. A true original, Peter is a gifted story-teller, visionary director and pioneer in film technology,” said Emmerich. “Reuniting with Peter, Fran and Philippa truly makes it feel like we are going ‘there and back again.’”

“There is no human being on the planet as qualified as Peter Jackson to direct these films,” said Horn. “Peter is incredibly talented and has the creative vision and experience to bring this beloved property to life in a way that no other filmmaker could. And the team of Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens has proven through their work on the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy that no one is more skilled at transforming Tolkien’s written words into a vibrant, living language that makes the audience believe they are not merely visiting Middle-earth, but actually living in it. We couldn’t be more thrilled and look forward to seeing ‘The Hobbit’ take shape under Peter’s stewardship and the team he is putting together.”

“MGM is excited to move forward and add to the successful ‘Lord of the Rings’ franchise,” said Cooper. “Under Peter’s direction, the films will undoubtedly appeal to fans of the original ‘LOTR’ trilogy and also bring the stories to a new generation of fans.”

Jackson, who directed all three “Lord of the Rings” films, will helm the two films back-to-back, telling the story of “The Hobbit” in two parts. Jackson will utilize groundbreaking visual effects and his incomparable story-telling to bring J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel to the big screen. Both Hobbit movies will be filmed in Digital 3-D, using the latest camera and stereo technology to create a high quality, comfortable viewing experience. Jackson also co-wrote the screenplays with Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro.

“The Hobbit” is being co-produced by New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production, Warner Bros Pictures handling domestic distribution and MGM distributing internationally. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Carolynne Cunningham are producing the films, with Phillipa Boyens as co-producer and Ken Kamins as executive producer.

The Oscar-winning, critically acclaimed LOTR trilogy grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box office. In 2003, “Return of the King” swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the 11 categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The trilogy’s production was also unprecedented at the time.

ABOUT NEW LINE CINEMA:

New Line Cinema continues to be one of the most successful independent film companies. For more than 40 years, its mission has been to produce innovative, popular, profitable entertainment in the best creative environment. A pioneer in franchise filmmaking, New Line produced the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, which is a landmark in the history of film franchises. New Line Cinema is a division of Warner Bros.

ABOUT PETER JACKSON/WINGNUT FILMS:

Peter Jackson is one of the world’s most successful filmmakers. His monumental achievement co-writing, co-producing and directing The Lord of the Rings trilogy (with fellow Academy Award winners and frequent collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens) earned a total of 30 Academy Award nominations and 17 Academy Awards. Jackson and Walsh received their first Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay for their acclaimed film Heavenly Creatures. Jackson, through his New Zealand-based Wingnut Films banner, also was responsible for the globally successful 2005 remake of King Kong which earned over $500 million worldwide and 3 Academy Awards. Jackson most recently directed the Academy Award nominated The Lovely Bones; an adaptation of the acclaimed best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, which to date has earned nearly $100 million worldwide; and produced the global sensation, District 9, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. He is also developing a trilogy of films with Steven Spielberg based on Tintin, the world renowned comic book series by Herge. In 2010 he received a Knighthood for his services to film.

ABOUT METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIOS INC.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in domestic and international TV channels reaching over 130 countries. For more information, visit http://www.mgm.com/.

THE HOBBIT Goes Before the Camera in July

It was reported back in November that production on the two-part prequel to LORD OF THE RINGS, THE HOBBIT, had been pushed back to mid-2010, possibly July.  Well, according to Ian McKellan’s official site, those reports are 100% accurate.

THE HOBBIT’s, two films, start shooting in New Zealand in July.  Filming will take over a year. Casting in Los Angeles, New York City and London has started.  The script too proceeds.  The first draft is crammed with old and new friends, again on a quest in Middle Earth.

The director Guillermo del Toro is now living in Wellington, close to the Jacksons’ and the studio in Miramar.

Nothing official has come from New Line, yet, as reported by Variety.  A spokesperson even went so far as to outright say they had not set a start date on production.  The biggest elephant in the room here is what is going on with MGM.  Their restructuring is moving slowly, and no one seems to know what will happen to their side of the financing once all the movement dust settles.

It is looking more and more likely that we won’t be going back to the shire until, at least, December 2012.

Production on THE HOBBIT Pushed to Middle of 2010

gollum

Before all you LOTR fanboys get all in a tizzy about this bit of information, know that production on the Guillermo Del Toro-directed version of THE HOBBIT was previously set to begin production in March of 2010.  The first draft of the script has only recently been submitted, and a second draft is currently in the works.  However, today comes word from the German site MovieReporter.net in an interview with Peter Jackson that production on the film has been pushed back to later in the year, possibly July.

Here is what Jackson had to say in detail (translation courtesy of TheOneRing.net):

We’re currently  working on the second script which we hope to have  completed by the  end of this year or beginning of  next.   When  the scripts are completed, we can begin with the exact calculation of the necessary budget.   We hope to start filming in the middle of next year.  However, we’ve  received  no green light from  the studio yet.

The issues facing MGM might be what is holding up that green light, but no one is saying for sure.  Jackson also hasn’t given any indication whether this will delay the film’s proposed December 2011 release date.  This was for the first film in the new two-parter with the second film scheduled for December 2012.

McKellen Has Read THE HOBBIT

Gandalf

The chaps over at Sci-Fi Wire have gotten their hands on a recent statement from actor Ian McKellen regarding the much anticipated THE HOBBIT, directed by the wonderful Guillermo Del Toro. McKellen has read the screenplay to THE HOBBIT and he had very little to say in terms of spoilers, other than that the script was penned just for him (as it should be) by producers (and LOTR aficionados) Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and of course Del Toro himself. Here is the rest of his report as told by Sci-Fi Wire:

“As Peter has said, they loved writing Gandalf [for THE HOBBIT] because they knew who they were writing him for,” McKellen told us exclusively in an interview last week while promoting AMC’s THE PRISONER. “There are a lot of characters in THE HOBBIT, including, crucially, Bilbo, and they don’t know who’s going to play Bilbo. So it’s extremely attractive that this part has been written for me. The other Gandalf was written for, well, just as Gandalf. There’s lots for me to enjoy, in all sorts of ways. And I couldn’t be happier. But I’m sworn to secrecy. I’m not to say anything at all about the script.”

He goes on to talk about the involvement of director Guillermo Del Toro, the newcomer to the LOTR crowd, and his communication with Jackson:

“They are the same person,” he said. “They were separated at birth. They’re twins. They have the same attitude. Neither likes working in Hollywood. They’re both fascinated by fantasy and violence on the screen, and gore, and things that frighten you. They like going into the psyche. They’re both brilliant storytellers in very much the same way. And I think the script, because I have read it, plays very much to Guillermo’s strengths, as I’ve seen them. I have seen his other movies, and people act very well in them. So I think it’s all fine. And Peter will always be there.”

It sounds to me that things are moving very well in the right direction. If Gandalf is on board with the script, I don’t see how anyone can be against this project!

THE HOBBIT is set to hit theaters December of 2011.

Character Cage Match: Dumbledore vs. Gandalf

ccm_dumbledoregandalf

Welcome, fans, to this special edition of WAMG’s Character Cage Match. With the release of ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ we decided to pit the two Best Movie Wizards against each other in a magical duel of wits, wisdom and wizardry in an attempt to determine, once and for all, who is the most formidable of them all. To make things even more interesting, let’s pit the fans against each other as well. Those of you who consider yourselves Ringers, devout followers of Lord of the Rings, support your wizard! Those of you who fanatically know every fact and detail in the Harry Potter Universe, support your wizard! Let it be known, here and now, who is the greatest wizard of all!

Dumbledore

  • Full Name: Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore (currently portrayed by Michael Gambon, originally Richard Harris)
  • Height: Six Foot Tall
  • Residence: Earth
  • Age: Over 100 Years Old
  • Weapon of Choice: Magic Wand, but his keen intellect and charm go a long way.
  • Minions: Professional Wizard Colleagues, a School full of Students of Magic, Rubeus Hagrid
  • Arch Nemesis: Lord Voldemort
  • Fan Support: Potter-ites (?), Scores of Adolescent and Pre-Teen Readers, Some Fantasy Buffs, Some Adult Fans

Gandalf

  • Full Name: Gandalf the Grey, resurrected as Gandalf the White, also known as Mithrandir and Olórin (portrayed by Ian McKellan)
  • Height: 5 Foot, 11 Inches Tall
  • Residence: Middle Earth
  • Age: Over 2,000 Years Old
  • Weapon of Choice: Magical Staff, but can wield a sword if necessary.
  • Minions: Elves, Hobbits, Dwarves, Magical Talking and Walking Trees
  • Arch Nemesis: Sauron
  • Fan Support: Ringers, Fantasy Buffs, Dungeons & Dragons Geeks, Literary Scholars, Mostly Adult Fans

So, we have the basic break-down of these two contestants. Consider it, ponder it and then conjure up your decision and post comments below letting everyone know where you stand on who will prevail in this magical duel to the death. Remember, every vote counts and their fates are in your hands! Also, if you have any ideas for future editions of the Character Cage Match, shoot us an email at here and let us know.

Jackson and Del Toro Talk a Little ‘Hobbit’ Format

hobbit

Empire magazine sat down with directors Peter Jackson and Guillermo Del Toro for their 20th Anniversary issue due out next week.   In the interview, the directors discuss ‘The Hobbit,’ and their approach to spanning the story across two films.

Here’s what they had to say:

“We’ve decided to have The Hobbit span the two movies, including the White Council and the comings and goings of Gandalf to Dol Guldur,† says Del Toro.

“We decided it would be a mistake to try to cram everything into one movie,† adds Jackson. “The essential brief was to do The Hobbit, and it allows us to make The Hobbit in a little more style, if you like, of the [LOTR] trilogy.†

There has been speculation that the second of these two films would be an original story that gapped ‘The Hobbit’ with the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy.   That, apparently, is not the case, and the story played out in ‘The Hobbit’ will span two films.

What do you think?   Is there enough story in ‘The Hobbit’ to span across two different films?   Should they have set the second film to tell an original story that bridged the two different stories?   What are you overall thoughts on Del Toro taking over the reigns from Jackson?   Let us know by commenting below!

Source: Empire Online

‘Dark Knight’ Breaks $1 Billion!

darkknightbestever

Well, it’s not going to break the ‘Titanic’ barrier, but ‘The Dark Knight’ did pull a milestone this week. Â  It became the fourth film in history to make over $1 billion worldwide.

Warner Brothers made the announcement Friday, citing their worldwide take at  $1,001,082,160  to date — about $533 million domestically and $567 million overseas.

‘Knight’ had been about $4  million short of the 10-figure mark when Warner Bros. re-released it into Imax screens on Jan. 23, the day  after its eight Oscar nominations were announced. Grosses from Ecuador also helped nudge the Batpic over the mark, a spokeswoman said.

Only ‘Titanic,’ with $1.8 billion, ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,’ with $1.1 billion, and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’, with $1.06 billion have topped the billion-dollar  worldwide mark previously.

So, what do you think? Â  Did you see ‘The Dark Knight’ again since its re-release? Â  Is it shocking that only four films have ever broken the billion dollar worldwide mark? Â  Isn’t it great that ‘Dead Man’s Chest’, by far the best film in that series, is the one that made so much money? Â  Let us know by commenting below!

Source: Variety