Jack from Welly-moot, Wellington’s Tolkien group, has been in touch with us, and it looks like Wellington may have a Line Party coming up sooner than you’d expect – next week, in fact!  Here’s what Jack says:

‘We held Welly-moot (the meeting of Wellington’s Tolkien enthusiasts) at the Embassy Theatre yesterday. I spoke to the Elly, the manager there, and asked her when Hobbit tickets to the December 13th opening would be available. She said at 12:01am Nov 7th (online), and 09:00am next morning (physical box office). I asked her if she would consider opening the physical box office at midnight as well, and she said she’d consider it IF she got enough demand for it.

So: if you are in Wellington and you want to join fellow fans to stand in line for tickets, please send an email to Elly, the manager of Wellington’s Embassy Theatre, at “manager@deluxe.co.nz” with a subject of “Please open the Box Office at 12:01am, Nov 7th for Hobbit Tickets!”.  If the box office opens, I plan to be there on the night – let’s see how many others we can get to join us!’

There you have it, Wellington fans – a call to arms!  It goes without saying, please be nice when you email Elly at the Embassy – we wish you luck in getting the first Line Party going!  Register your interest also at our Line Party page – and remember, wherever in the world you are, you can join a Line Party or start your own!  Just join our Line Party community!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released in New Zealand cinemas a day earlier than originally scheduled, on Wednesday December 12, 2012.

The film’s local distributor Roadshow Films NZ announced the date change today.

“Given the unprecedented level of interest in the film on a local level we are delighted to be one of the first markets in the world to screen the film for audiences, a full day earlier than the traditional Thursday release,” says John Davie,  general manager of Roadshow Films NZ.

Midnight screenings launch at 12.01am at select cinemas across the country, with pre-sale tickets for all New Zealand screenings on sale from Wednesday November 7

Today, our friends at Air New Zealand – THE airline for Middle-earth – released this fantastic new safety video.  Look out for some familiar faces – including TORn staffers Quickbeam and MrCere!  This is so much fun – and typical of the spirit and humour of the folks at Air New Zealand.  And as if the video itself weren’t excitement enough, when you go here to watch the video, there’s a link to a chance to win one of six double passes to the world premiere screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in Wellington this November!  What are you waiting for?!

Director Peter Jackson is 51 today!  We wish him many happy returns of the day; and hope he takes some time to celebrate, and then gets back to editing those three, precioussss movies….  Happy Birthday Sir Peter!

Join us in about 30 minutes for our *live* weekly webcast TORn TUESDAY! Your congenial host Clifford “Quickbeam” Broadway will bring in fellow TORn Staffer and esteemed Middle-earth journalist Larry “MrCere” Curtis to talk about new Line Parties co-crafted by YOU the *fans* using TheOneRing.net’s exclusive Line Party interface — and also the Wellington premiere party for THE HOBBIT; and we’ll even check out the new T.V. spot! Perhaps we may even begin the OFFICIAL TORn HOBBIT LIVE READING straight from the original book, time permitting. Join us at 5pm Pacific Daylight Time and be part of the chat at our *LIVE Event Page* right here, which includes Barliman’s Chat! www.theonering.net/live  or even turn on your webcam and join us at our Stickam page here — www.stickam.com/theoneringnet