An unexpected wait for Hobbit reviews
Only Twitter users and a part-time critic at the New York Daily News have so far broken the embargo on Jackson’s return to Middle-earth. But, The Guardian asks, is the film verdict-proof anyway? (more…)
Archive for the ‘MGM’ Category
National Wildlife Federation Hobbit partnership
NWF is teaming up with Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM) for the Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular novel The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. “As the education partner for the film, we hope the popularity of the books and its themes of courage and nature’s beauty will inspire moviegoers and Tolkien fans to do something to make our Earth a greener place.” So, far, the collaboration includes an official NWF movie poster you can download, and suggestions for outdoor activities and ‘greening’ your own Shire. Read More…
New Zealand Post Releases “Hobbit” Stamps and Coins… Ian McKellen Gives Seal Of Approval
Today marks the day the New Zealand Post, in an exclusive arrangement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Warner Bros. Pictures, and the filmmakers, releases commemorative stamps and coins for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
New Zealand Post’s spokesman for stamps and coins Simon Allison says:
We’re the only country in the world with the rights to produce these highly collectable coins, featuring iconic characters from what is sure to become a classic series of films.
The items announced today are appropriate mementoes of the film, and fit in with the mythology of Middle-earth – New Zealand. We’re committed to honouring the legacy of Sir Peter’s films, by creating stamps and coins of the highest quality.
Hit the break for hi-res pictures of the stamps and coins, and the world exclusive press release for the same, courtesy of our friend Emma over at New Zealand Post.
Posted in Characters, Hobbit Movie, Merchandise, MGM, New Line Cinema, Other Merchandise, Studios, The Hobbit, Warner Bros.Official: ‘Hobbit’ trailer on broadcast, online, in theaters
A press release with some precious details about the debut of the new ‘Hobbit’ trailer has been handed to us and while we thought we knew it all, there are tidbits that whet the appetite. This trailer, coming approximately three months before the film lands in wide release in theaters, will likely be the first specific look at the first of the three films, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Hobbit, celebrating its 75th anniversary. It may give us clues about what to expect as it tries to sell the film to a mainstream audience.
Most interesting from the release is the phrase: “The new trailer is set to debut on broadcast and online media on September 19, 2012, then roll out in theaters around the world throughout the day.” So the obvious news is that the trailer will be broadcast, but where? Where online? And what films will it roll out with in theaters? There are several films scheduled for release on the 21st, including “Dredd,” “House at the End of the Street,” and Warner Bros., own, “Trouble with the Curve,” but none on the 19th. This probably means theaters have the trailers today with instructions to add them to existing films starting Wednesday. If that is true, each theater will have the option, so those wishing to watch the trailer on the big screen should call local movie houses.
TORn will update with any specifics but for now, here is the full press release: (more…)
Posted in Director news, Guillermo Del Toro, Headlines, Hobbit Movie, MGM, New Line Cinema, Peter Jackson, Studios, The Hobbit, Warner Bros.Warner Bros drops new Hobbit film titles and dates!
Hollywood Reporter and various other outlets are reporting that July 18, 2014 will be the release date for the third Hobbit film.
In addition, they report that Warner Bros has announced that the third film will be renamed The Hobbit: There And Back Again.
The second film, to be released on December 13, 2013 will be called The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of International Distribution said in the press release: “The Hobbit: There and Back Again will be an action spectacle and an emotional conclusion for this already much-anticipated trilogy. Opening in the summer will maximize playability for what promises to be an event film for fans the world over.”
EDIT: I think that the second title Desolation of Smaug means that it will conclude with the demise of Smaug at the hands of Bard the Bowman. Highlight to see spoilery speculation.
Posted in Headlines, Hobbit Movie, MGM, New Line Cinema, Studios, Warner Bros.The bold ‘Hobbit’ trilogy decision and what to expect
We all listened to and read Peter Jackson’s words from Comic-Con about three possible “Hobbit,” movies carefully. But we didn’t listen to all the words and we missed a few things.
He told us. He told us — he did.
He said exactly what he meant, he said it plainly and the media and fans (and me) tried to figure out what he meant when he told us in plainness. Monday, Jackson dropped an atomic bomb of news and fandom reacted accordingly.
“The Hobbit,” adapted for the screen from the 300-page, 75-year-old book by J.R.R. Tolkien changed from from two movies to three in the blink of a Facebook post.
AMBITION
More on the words we ignored in a minute. We need to figure out when these films break, what it means for fans and websites and studios and cinema and the director, but lets not rush past the size and scope of this news. Lets not walk around Paris admiring all the cafes and churches without also pausing and noticing the big tower in the center of town.
We witnessed, the last few weeks since Comic-Con, something monumental, unprecedented, unparalleled and a little bit crazy. Jackson (and when we say “Jackson” we always mean the director and Walsh, Boyens and a team of others supporting their vision) is in unchartered territory here. (more…)
Posted in Blu-Ray, Books Publications, Cast Q&A, Character Q&A, Collectibles, Director news, Director Q&A, Headlines, Hobbit Book, Hobbit Movie, Hobbit Movie FAQ, J.R.R. Tolkien, LEGO, Location Q&A, Merchandise, MGM, MrCere in New Zealand, New Line Cinema, Other Merchandise, Peter Jackson, Rumors Spy News, Sideshow Collectibles, Studios, The Hobbit, Toys, Warner Bros., Weta Collectibles, WETA Digital, WETA WorkshopThird ‘Hobbit’ movie: How? What? When? Why?
I admit, when I first heard talk of “a third ‘Hobbit’ movie” from the floor of Comic-Con, I was skeptical. Reporters Quickbeam and Justin brought back footage from a press conference (that you can watch right here) breaking the story that additional shooting was a possibility, directly from Peter Jackson’s mouth. I downplayed it because from a five-week set visit I knew the team was going to return to shooting right after Comic-Con. I thought the media was being its usual bombastic self by calling a little more shooting “a third “Hobbit” movie. They absolutely had it posted first, breaking the story so kudos to them, but I dismissed it. How quickly things change.
Now it seems inevitable that this will happen. Jackson clearly has the will or he wouldn’t have spoken about it so fully. The studio clearly has the will because they are talking about it instead of dismissing it. So what would this mean besides another year of happy blood sweat and tears at TheOneRing.net? Lets look at all the facts and see if we can’t come to some conclusions educated guesses.
ON THE RECORD, WHAT WAS SAID:
Jackson spoke about this, very likely not by accident, from the television press line meet-and-greet at Comic-Con that took place before the famous Hall H event for fans. (Watch the first two or three minutes of Jackson’s own production diary #8 for the best account of Hall H.) (more…)
Posted in Characters, ComicCon, Conventions, Director Rumors, Headlines, Hobbit Book, Hobbit Cast News, Hobbit Movie, Hobbit Movie FAQ, Lord of the Rings, MGM, Studios, The HobbitAir NZ Boeing 777s become flying Hobbit billboards
Hobbits are taking to the skies once again, but instead of riding giant eagles they are flying Air New Zealand.
The airline has cut a two-year deal with film studios New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to promote the two upcoming movies, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Passengers to and from the United Kingdom and North America will get to fly on two film-branded Boeing 777 aircraft and watch a special edition of the in-flight safety video, both made with the help of Weta workshop.
A Boeing 777-300 will be transformed into a flying billboard for the first movie and a Boeing 777-200 for the second movie.
[More]
Posted in Hobbit Movie, MGM, Studios, Warner Bros.Film Friday: Can ‘The Hobbit’ rule them all in 2012?
2012 will be a watermark year for the movie business but this week looks a lot like the 1990s and presented some problems for TheOneRing.net’s Film Friday. I didn’t want to watch “Titanic,” or “American Reunion,” which are likely this week’s biggest new releases. In each case, I feel like I have been there before.
I have been much more interested this week in a discussion with some Facebook friends about which films will rule the 2012 box office numbers. “The Hunger Games,” is proving to be a powerful financial force. Some of these friends are fans of “The Hobbit,” but don’t think the film can win the finally tally for the year’s biggest moneymaker. I disagree. (Oh and while we are talking about the film, any media member who writes that it is a prequel is lazy, inaccurate and deserves a gentle kick in the shins. The story stands alone, came first and is so much more than just a lead-up to LOTR.)
While studios care deeply about the financial returns, fans are a lot more interested in art and a thrill at the movies. Still, there is some fun in watching the box office derby and it seems like a dozen websites have sprung up devoted to doing just that.
Lets take a look at one man’s predictions of the final top 10 box office films released in 2012. (more…)
Posted in Film Screenings, Hobbit Movie, Ian McKellen, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, LotR Movies, MGM, Peter Jackson, Studios, The Hobbit, Tolkien, Warner Bros.Netflix will become exclusive streaming provider of many MGM films in UK, Ireland
Netflix and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) this morning announced a multi-year licensing agreement that will make Netflix the exclusive subscription streaming service in the UK and Ireland for most first-run feature films from the movie studio.
Starting in early 2012, when Netflix is set to make its debut in the UK and Ireland, registered members will be able to watch available content instantly on their television sets, tablets, game consoles, computers and mobile phones. Pricing for the service in these regions has yet to be announced.
Appearing exclusively on Netflix within one year of their theatrical release will be such MGM films as “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” the prequels to the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “Zookeeper”, and “21 Jump Street”.
A selection of MGM catalogue titles will also be available on Netflix in the UK and Ireland, including “Fargo,” “The Usual Suspects,” “West Side Story” and “The Amityville Horror”.
Posted in Hobbit Movie, MGM, StudiosExclusive: The first screening of ‘Hobbit’ footage?
Staffer Kristin Thompson has written from the road with a great giveaway item and a hot rumor. Expect this TORn exclusive to heat up the internet today but it seems the spy network has checked in. Kristin says:
“At MIPCOM, a television trade show held in Cannes on October 3 to 6, this great bag with an image of Bilbo was being given away. It’s trademarked by New Line Cinema and MGM. Rumor has it that a few minutes of footage from THE HOBBIT were also screened!” (more…)
The Road Back from DragonCon Begins Today! Noon ET
TheOneRing.net, with major sponsor The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, is returning the Road! While DragonCon may be coming to a end today, the journey continues for our fellowship of drivers as they take the long road back from Atlanta, GA to Los Angeles, CA. The road warriors will begin their trip at approximately Noon ET and will drive straight through over the next few days, stopping along the way to meet up with fans and see some famous places. So while we had occasional non-live elements to DragonCon, we will be back to our LIVE as much as humanly possible for the remainder of the trip. If you have not been following the news, we are on a multi-day road trip to (and from!) DragonCon and, for the first time ever, broadcasting the entire trip 24/7 LIVE via Stickam.com. You can interact with the travelers in our Barliman’s chat, as well through twitter and Facebook. And of course, you can email them atroadtrip@theonering.net. And even better, we’ve set up a special phone number so you can call and text our travelers: 970-210-6130. We have a special sub site set up to follow their progress – just follow the link. [LIVE] And don’t’ forget to support our sponsors: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Badali Jewelry and Anglotopia! [Roadtrip to DragonCon Sub Site] [Support the Trip - T-Shirts]