If you’re a follower of TORn Tuesday, you’ll have seen Royd Tolkien and Jed Brophy guesting on the show, in advance of a special appearance at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Royd, a film maker who happens to be the great-grandson of the Professor, was presenting the US premier of his film There’s a Hole in my Bucket . They joined host Quickbeam (aka Clifford Scott Broadway) to talk about this inspiring film.
Royd’s brother Mike was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (known in America as ALS). Before he died, he created a ‘bucket list’ – tasks and challenges that Royd would fulfil on Mike’s behalf. There’s a Hole in my Bucket tells the story of the quest to complete that list. It’s a beautiful and moving film, which will be heading to more cities for screenings – comment on the movie’s Facebook page if you’d like it to play in a city near you!
Meanwhile, we were delighted that in addition to taking time to join TORn Tuesday, Royd also shared some thoughts with staffer greendragon – discussing the challenges, loss, living life to the full, and the Tolkien fandom.
Royd Tolkien with his little brother Mike
greendragon: Somehow a decade has already passed since Mike died. How did all the challenges go? Are you still setting yourself new challenges, imagining what Mike might be asking you to do if he were still here?
Royd: The challenges were all difficult in their own unique way. Some were terrifying and pushed me completely outside my comfort zone, others were incredibly awkward (and I avoid awkwardness at all costs!), and some were so emotional that they made the pain of Mike not being there all the more real. But they all pushed me in directions I never imagined I’d go.
It’s very easy to slip back into what’s familiar and comfortable. I still find myself pottering around in the garden, imagining Mike shouting at me saying, “Get out there! Do something! You can garden tomorrow!”
And I do try to carry that with me. So much of this journey has been about learning to grab life by the balls, to say yes to things I might normally shy away from and to make the most of the time I’ve got. I don’t always get it right, but I think Mike would be pleased to know I’m still giving it a bloody good go.
GD: What has the reception of the movie and your book been? I imagine people really relate to it – do you get people sharing tales with you, of their own grief, or of their goals to live more fully?
RT: I’ve been totally blown away by the reception, particularly to the book which has been out for a few years now. The film’s currently doing the festival circuit, including Newport Beach Film Festival, and is due for release in Australia and New Zealand next year.
I’ve had people reach out from all over the world to tell me how the story has affected their lives, often in ways I could never have anticipated. And it’s not necessarily people who’ve experienced motor neurone disease or a similar loss. I’ve had messages from people who’ve realised how ridiculous a petty argument with a brother or sister was, and how my journey has encouraged them to rebuild those relationships. Others have told me it’s made them reassess their priorities and reminded them of the importance of getting out there and grabbing life by the balls.
That’s been an extraordinary and completely unexpected reward. When I started this journey, there was no grand plan. I was simply following Mike’s instructions: ‘You make films, make a film about this.’ And if I was going to use my name for anything, I should use it to raise awareness of motor neurone disease.
That was always the purpose, but the story has taken on a life of its own. It’s become about more than the disease and grief. It’s about relationships, the fragility of life and remembering to actually live it while we can.
To hear how people have connected with that message, and in some cases made real changes in their lives because of it, has been a genuine honour.
Royd prepares to bungee jump – in a tutu, a challenge requirement!
GD: You’re part of the Tolkien family AND the Tolkien fandom family. What does the fandom mean to you? How have the fans – or the connections made through the fandom – helped you with your journey and your adventures?
The fandom means an enormous amount to me. I’ve been surrounded by it for as long as I can remember, the Tolkien Society gatherings in Oxford that we went to when I was growing up was the beginning for me. Because of that it’s always been a familiar and wonderful part of my life.
And I completely understand the passion because I’m a fan myself. What makes it so special is that it really does feel like an extended family. I’ve made lifelong friends through our shared love of Tolkien, and those friendships have been a huge part of my life and, in many ways, my own adventures.
I was lucky enough to spend International Hobbit Day in Hobbiton recently with Jed, and we spent the day just hanging out with everyone. It was heaven. There’s something incredibly comforting about being surrounded by people who share that same enthusiasm and love for something. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your background is, there’s an immediate connection.
It’s a wonderfully warm, welcoming community, and one I feel incredibly lucky to be part of.
You can watch the trailer for There’s a Hole in my Buckethere.
Christmas came a bit early for Tolkien fandom as we learned about Fathom Entertainment bringing the Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Trilogy back to theaters in early 2026. Yup – the real-deal Extended Editions that stole whole weekends from us for the last 25 years. (No complaints here!) The LOTR Theaters 2026 event gives us another chance to go there and back again!
Tickets are on sale now, and honestly, it feels like the perfect excuse to get back into a theater, turn off the rest of the world, and remember what it was like to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with fans who cheer when Gandalf arrives at dawn and cry when Sam says he can’t carry it for you, but he can carry you.
This isn’t just about seeing the films again; it’s about feeling the Fellowship again. And, honestly, after the last few years, that feels long overdue.
So here’s our ultimate TORn guide to what makes these screenings special and why you absolutely should not miss them.
1. It’s the 25th Anniversary – Crazy!
Twenty five years ago, The Fellowship of the Ring strolled into theaters with tons of hype and basically rearranged our emotional connection to film for an entire generation. A quarter century later (holy crud are we really that old now?!), we’re getting a chance to celebrate the moment that changed fantasy filmmaking forever.
If you saw it in 2001, maybe you get to relive that excitement and nostalgia. If you weren’t old enough or somehow missed it, this is your moment to join the rest of us and say: I finally saw it on the big screen!
2. D-BOX Motion Seats – You Will Literally Feel Middle-earth
If you haven’t tried D-BOX before… oh boy. We think some of these screenings will have this available…
Imagine this:
The Mines of Moria quake underneath you
The Balrog roar vibrates through your seat
The cavalry charge at Helm’s Deep moves your entire body
Troll hits actually jolt your chair
It’s ridiculous and fun and honestly the closest we’ll get to signing waivers saying Yes, please physically toss me around during the Battle of Pelennor Fields.”
If you want immersion, D-BOX is the deluxe tier. It is not for the faint of heart though – so fair warning!
The Regal North Hollywood is holding a showing of the new feature-length anime The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim from 1.00pm on this Saturday (November 9) open to children aged nine to 14, and their parents. It’s not entirely clear whether adult-without-kids can also attend, but I took a few moments to run through their pre-booking survey and it does seem that you get screened out if you state you’re attending without kids.
T&Cs also state that no-one under the age of nine will be admitted (presumably because of MPAA ratings).
If this tickles your fancy (and you have kids 9 to 14), you can reserve (free!) your tickets here.
If you’re unaware of the story, The War of the Rohirrim is set many years before the events of The Lord of the Rings and follows a historic event described by J.R.R. Tolkien in Appendix A of the book. As the filmmakers describe it, “…a sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg.”
The anime debuts worldwide (in most locations) on December 13.
Early free screening details
Saturday, November 9th, 2024 Regal North Hollywood 6150 Laurel Canyon Blvd # 200, North Hollywood, CA 91606
1:00 pm. Open to children 9-14 and their parents No one under 9 will be admitted. Check-in will begin 60 minutes before the start of the show.
As fans in the US no doubt already know, this summer Fathom Events are screening the Extended Editions of The Lord of the Rings movies! June 8, 9, 10, and then again June 22, 23, 24, Peter Jackson’s trilogy will be screened in AMC, Cinemark and Regal theatres across America.
If, like us, you never miss a chance to see these epic films on the big screen, then we have good news for you: we have 60 pairs of tickets to giveaway! That’s 20 pairs for each of the three movies, to be given away at random to lucky winners in the United States.
To be in with a chance to win, all you need to do is fill in the form below, letting us know which film (and date) you’d like, and your local participating theatre where you’d like to attend. Complete the form by 8pm EST May 15th, and we’ll be in touch if you’re a lucky winner!
The giveaway is now closed; thanks to all who entered! Winners chosen at random will be contacted soon.
A couple of weeks ago saw those wonderful performances at Radio City Music Hall, of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, with live orchestral accompaniment. Various TORn staffers and friends were there; our friend Constance G. J. Wagner shares her thoughts about the event:
The Two Towers at Radio City Music Hall
February in New York can be wind-whipped and cold — much like the gusts one experiences when standing before the doors of Meduseld in Rohan. This is all an artsy way of describing the walk TO Radio City Music Hall In New York City on February 17th to immerse myself in the “score to screen” live music performance of Howard Shore’s powerful score for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. However, as cold as it was outside on the streets of Manhattan, the fellowship felt among the audience waiting for the performance to start created warmth and energy that crackled with electric anticipation. When conductor Ludwig Wicki came onstage to begin the show, the walls of Radio City vibrated with a fan-fueled roar of expectation and excitement. It would, they felt, be a night to remember.
Hearing the score played live, seeing a choir and soloists bring both intimate and epic musical moments to life in real time, is an experience not to be missed. It deepens the depiction of character and the emotional context of the saga as a whole, particularly since this is a shared experience with all of Middle-earth spread across a 60-foot screen.
The audience cheered the arrival of each hero’s first appearance on the screen, but also gave rousing applause to soloist Kaitlyn Lusk, who dazzled with lyric, numinous vocals and a glittering golden gown to match. Equally impressive was the boy soprano soloist who captured the intensity of the battle cry of the Rohirrim with soaring, impossible notes.
At night’s end, cheers and more cheers for the soloists, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, the adult choir — MasterVoices, and the conductor rolled through the audience like a great wave with a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.
The experience was immersive and impressive and amazing – particularly for those fans whose viewing of the film may have only been on small screens. For this part of Tolkien’s tale to be presented as literally larger than life with sound to rock the soul … well, it is something for the ages.
Finally, the audience left the theatre filled with anticipation for another round in another year when Return of the King comes to the screen with its own sights, and sounds … and wonder. And so to all the musicians who brought Howard Shore’s score to an audience in such brilliant fashion, one can only offer thanks and say: Elen síla lúmenn’ omentielvo — A star shines on the hour of our meeting.
The Return of the King in 2025?
The Return of the King is the one movie of the trilogy which was not part of the original performances with orchestra at Radio City Music Hall; so, we’re very much hoping we’ll see that movie presented in 2025! Of course, we’ll let you know as soon as we hear!
In February of this year, we saw performances at Radio City Music Hall of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, with live orchestral accompaniment. It has been announced today that February 2024 will see The Two Towers getting the same treatment – and having last time sold out their two dates, and added two more, this time they’re starting with four opportunities to attend. Tickets will go on sale tomorrow; but here at TORn we have an exclusive presale code for you, so you can claim your tickets today!
Get your tickets now
February 14 through 17, 2024, 8pm each night, fans can enjoy Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers back on the big screen, with 238 musicians playing and singing along. To claim your tickets before they go on general sale tomorrow, click here, and use the code TORTWO.
The Return of the King is the one movie of the trilogy which was not part of the original performances with orchestra at Radio City Music Hall; fingers crossed for 2025! Meanwhile, read the press release about the upcoming The Two Towers performances, below – and snap up those tickets while you can!
21st Anniversary Concert THE LORD OF THE RINGS: The Two Towers In Concert
Academy Award Winner HOWARD SHORE’S Score Performed Live to the Epic Motion Picture
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, CHORUS, SOLOISTS
Ludwig Wicki, Conductor
238 MUSICIANS ONSTAGE BENEATH A 60-FOOT SCREEN
Radio City Music Hall, New York FEBRUARY 14-17, 2024
NEW YORK, NY — Celebrating the 21st anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Academy award winner Howard Shore’s score will be presented live, in concert. Experience the epic motion picture and its legendary score at the historic Radio City Music Hall, beneath a 60-foot screen accompanied by 238 musicians, including symphony orchestra, chorus and soloists, this coming February 14, 15, 16 and 17, 2024.
After four nights of standing ovations at Radio City Music Hall in February 2023, and an ongoing international tour, The Lord of the Rings, In Concert, will be reuniting the Fellowship for the second installment – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The 2024 concerts will mark the return of The Two Towers, In Concert, to NYC for the first time since its sold out run in 2015. The live performances of Howard Shore’s score of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, In Concert, are unmatched in the movie-going experience – the iconic and ethereal score having been voted No .1 in the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame 2023.
The Two Towers, In Concert, is represented by CAMI Music, who is partnering with Bowery Presents to bring these performances to life at Radio City Music Hall.
The Two Towers, In Concert, will be conducted by Ludwig Wicki, who was the inaugural conductor of The Two Towers, In Concert, and specializes in bringing films and their scores to life. Orchestra, soloists, and chorus for the 2024 performances at Radio City Music Hall will be announced at a later date.
The epic film trilogy The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), The Return of the King (2003) – directed by Peter Jackson and based on the beloved J.R.R. Tolkien novel became an international phenomenon. Released by New Line Cinema, the trilogy is among the highest earning films of all time and won a total of 17 Academy Awards. Howard Shore was honored with Academy Awards for Original Score for The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and The Return of the King (2003), and for Original Song for Into the West, featured in The Return of the King (2003).
Howard Shore commented on the return of The Two Towers, In Concert to New York City: “The concerts on February 14th through 17th , 2024 will bring Maestro Ludwig Wicki back to NYC’s historic Radio City Music Hall leading a symphony orchestra, chorus, and soloists. Based in the city of Lucerne, Switzerland, where we first began performing the complete score to the theatrical version of the films in 2008, Maestro Wicki is the foremost conductor of this score-to-film concert. Over the years he has worked to perfect this music and his precision, detail and supreme musicianship will be on display at Radio City. I am so very happy to have The Two Towers return to New York.”
Tickets will be on sale from 10am tomorrow – but are available to TORn’s followers NOW, with the code TORTWO. Get yours here! Find out more about these upcoming performances by looking for LOTRConcerts on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook. Hope to see you there!
