Moria Orc Premium Format FigureWith the launch of their newsletter tonight, Sideshow Collectibles has announced a brand new Premium Format figure to their Lord of the Rings line-up: The Moria Orc. Unlike the polystone statues of the past, Premium Format figures are made with a mix of polystone, cloth, metals and other materials to give them a more life-like appearance. They are usually produced in 1/4 scale so we can only imagine the detail on this hideous creature of Moria. Pre-orders should begin next Thursday, but for now, jump over to the SideshowCollectibles.com website and view the sneak peek. And if you haven’t already done so, check out the other LOTR Premium Format figures available for purchase. [Preview the Moria Orc] [Other LOTR Collectibles]

The Lord of the Rings: ConquestRohan from GameTrailers TV sends us a heads up that they will have an exclusive trailer of the upcoming ‘The Lord of the Rings: Conquest’ game:

Friday night, Saturday morning, 1AM PDT weR’re having the exclusive game debut of Lord of the Rings: Conquest. Along with the first trailer, we’ve interviewed the game developer, Pandemic Studios, about how they created the game and even constructed an alternate LOTR universe where evil conquers over good! Being a LOTR fan and a gamer – I have to say, it’s a great episode.

Tune into GameTrailers TV this Saturday at 1AM PDT on the Spike Network. [View the Teaser for the Show]

Mount DoomTheOneRing.net boards are always active with all types of of interesting discussions. Here is one that jumped out at me today from board member Dreamdeer:

So..the second movie is tentatively expected to release around December, 2012? How fitting! Multiple groups around the globe (most famously the Mayan calendar) have predicted that the world will end that very month, or at least experience such interesting cataclysms as to signal the end of the world as we know it. But hey, if I get to see the final Tolkien movie before it all goes kablooey, I’ll be satisfied. Wouldn’t that be a nice way to close things down?

Join the discussion! [Click Here]

LOTR SymphonyRingers Nerwen and Jussi sent us excited emails this morning with the good news for Finnish ‘The Lord of the Rings’ fans:

The Lord of the Rings Symphony will be coming to Finland for the first time in May 2009. Tampere Philharmonic will perform the symphony on the 1st and 2nd of May 2009 in the Tampere-talo, with the Tampere Philharmonic Choir and the Pirkanpojat boy’s choir. The performance will be conducted by Markus Huber, who has travelled with the performance in many countries. Soprano Ann De Renais will perform as the soloist.

Tickets will go on sale June 23rd for these performances. [More Info]

The Hobbit Movie LogoAre you dying to know how to get cast as an extra in the Hobbit films or what LOTR actors, if any, will be returning? Perhaps you lie awake at night wondering how Guillermo Del Toro will bring Smaug to life on the big screen or whether the Tolkien vs. New Line lawsuit will delay or stop the films. These are but a few of the most frequently asked questions that come into TORn every day. So, as part of our continuing efforts to keep our readers up-to-date on all things Hobbit-related, we’ve compiled answers to your most frequently asked questions on one easy-to-access page on the site. It also includes useful links to key interviews, news stories, posts by GDT and more.

You can find the Hobbit Movie FAQ here, plus it’s now easily accessible via a permanent link in the menu on the left side of the screen under the heading “The Hobbit.” Be sure to check it often for updates during these dynamic and exciting times leading up to the next movies, and send any ideas or updates you have to spymaster@theonering.net!