News for Dec. 29, 2002

The Shire Thing

12/29/02, 7:15 pm EST - Xoanon

Never underestimate a hobbit. Elijah Wood, along with a few swashbuckling buddies, has taken over the box office: ''Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' grossed more than $100 million in its first five days of release and snagged Golden Globes nominations for Best Picture and Best Director (Peter Jackson). Not bad for a 21-year-old former child star. EW.com talked to Wood about elfin superstardom, his hunk costar Viggo Mortensen, and why his ''LOTR'' journey warranted a painful, and permanent, souvenir. [More]