From Matt:
Kinowelt is knocked out of the ‘Ring’
First pic in trilogy to be released under new arrangement
Variety Magazine, October 16th
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.
Despite its financial woes, Kinowelt has been stretching to hold on to the epic. Although the distrib recently managed to pay its last $9 million installment to New Line for the pic, there were growing doubts as to whether it could find the money for the massive P&A spend required to release it.
Kinowelt originally signed a three-year output deal with New Line running from 2001-03, but in the end the German indie could only commit to the first year of that pact.
New output agreement calls for Warners to handle theatrical distribution and marketing for all New Line titles released in the U.S. through 2003 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Eastern Europe and Russia.
Warner Home Video and Warners International Television Distribution will handle the respective homevideo and television rights of these films in the covered territories.
Hard hit after the crash of the Neuer Markt stock exchange and its own inability to license an ambitious free TV package from Warners, Kinowelt is in the midst of a major restructuring and has already reduced its distribution apparatus from three divisions to one. Its inhouse production team also has been pinkslipped.
Warners currently distributes New Line films theatrically, on homevideo and on television in select territories in Latin America and Asia.
Other titles under the Warners output deal include the remaining two installments of “The Lord of the Rings,” “Rush Hour 2,” “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” “Blade 2,” “John Q,” “Life as a House” and “I Am Sam.”
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It seems that the information on what Lord of the Ring stars will be attending the premiere of ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ is available in a section on the new Turkish Lord of the Rings movie site. Could this be the definite list of people who will be walking down the red carpet in December? [More]
If there is anyone out there has the power to confirm this list, please let me know!
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On the newly created Turkish Lord of the Rings official film site, there is a list posted here of what appears to be the list of people involved in Lord of the Rings Trilogy which will appear in New York and London days before the Fellowship of the Ring goes on release internationally. Though this hasn’t yet been confirmed as a definite list, the fact that it appeared on the an official movie site itself suggests that it is very likely.
Thanks to Emre the Sorcerer for the translations.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS PRESS CONFERENCES:
17-18-19-24 September 2001 – New York
Interviews with Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen.
7-8-9 December 2001 – London
Detailed one-to-one interviews with the director, crew and cast.
10 December 2001 – WORLD PREMIERE AND MAGNIFICENT PARTY
Live Broadcast to all of the world via satellite.
Famous stars will dazzle:
Elijah Wood
Sean Astin
Dominic Monaghan
Billy Boyd
Viggo Mortensen
Sean Bean
Christopher Lee
Liv Tyler
Orlando Bloom
John Rhys Davies
Peter Jackson (Director)
Barrie Osborn (Producer)
Fran Walsh (Screenwriter)
Philippa Boyens (Screenwriter)
Ian McKellen
Ian Holm
Hugo Weaving
Cate Blanchett
Howard Shore (Composer)
Richard Taylor (WETA Workshop)
If there is anyone out there involved with New Line Cinema or the Trilogy who can confirm this list, please let me know!
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New Line Cinema have added a Turkish website to the list of its International Lord of the Rings film sites. LordoftheRings.com.tr becomes the ninth International site, alongside Germany, France, Spain, Japan, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden. The site also confirms the Turkish release date: December 21st. [More]
Thanks to Emre the Sorcerer for the great news.
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TORn Staffer Pipesmoke let me know in Barlimans that beautiful Liv Tyler (Arwen) has become the second member of the Lord of the Rings cast to be named as IGN‘s ‘Celeb of the Day’. The mini-bio highlights Liv’s work to date and just why she will produce such a good performance this December. [More]
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Remember that Empire poll from a few days ago? Well, thanks to you folks we managed to swing it from 75%-25% in ‘Potter’s favour to 78%-22% in LOTR’s favour. But today I checked in to see how the poll was shaping up, only to see with near 14 thousand votes, Harry Potter has a slim lead over LOTR by 3%! Are we going to let this happen? If you’ve voted, vote AGAIN! Click “Hogwart sucks, Hobbiton rules,” press vote and you’re done. Empire are the biggest magazine in Britain, and we should let them know what the numero uno is this Christmas! [More]
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