In a blow to ailing German distributor Kinowelt, Warner Bros. will immediately assume distribution of New Line Cinema features in all German-speaking territories, Eastern Europe and Russia. While the shift was anticipated (Daily Variety, Aug. 30), Kinowelt had planned on releasing Peter Jackson’s first installment of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “The Fellowship of the Ring,” in December. That film will now be the first title under the new arrangement. [More]