Archive for July, 2008
July 27, 2008 at 11:31 am by xoanon
From www.stuff.co.nz: New Zealand actors Jay Laga’aia and Craig Parker are playing key roles in a new American swords and scorcery television series being filmed around Auckland. Filming of Wizard’s First Rule, the first book in Terry Goodkind’s popular The Sword of Truth books began this week. But the 22-episode series has been renamed Legend of the Seeker – apparently to avoid religious concerns among American audiences about scorcery. Executive producers Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert told a comics and fantasy convention of the name change, and announced the New Zealand actors, Entertainment Weekly reported. Craig Parker Cast in Raimi’s ‘Wizard’s First Rule’
Posted in Craig Parker, Television
July 27, 2008 at 11:26 am by xoanon
Frank sends along word that Brazilian uber-fan Guilherme de Franco is producing a television show directed to Tolkien community. He writes that it will be presented in October on a new TV channel called HOUSETV. Some local papers says he is already shooting at Brazilian locations and studio and will start to negotiate the rights and royalties to put it on the air. Brazilian fans stay tuned!
Posted in Fans, Television
July 27, 2008 at 11:17 am by xoanon
Kristin Thompson writes: I enjoyed MrCere’s report on our Comic-Con panel and just posted my Comic-Con entry on the panel and other LOTR-related activities during the first three days on The Frodo Franchise blog. Thanks, TORN, for inviting me to take part in the panel. It was great fun! [Report]
Posted in ComicCon, Conventions
July 27, 2008 at 11:15 am by xoanon
Claire writes: There’s an article on Guillermo del Toro in the ‘Film Quarterly’ magazine which comes with this week’s Observer, a Sunday newspaper in the UK. It’s mostly about the designs for Hellboy, but does mention how he’ll be recording his ideas for ‘The Hobbit’. You can find it here.
For those in the UK who can get hold of a copy, there are pictures of sketches for Hellboy and the characters as they appeared on screen.
Also in the same magazine is Phillip French’s Top Ten Trilogies. Phillip French is a well-known and well-respected film critic. The Top Ten isn’t in any particular order, and if you scroll down the list on this page the Lord of the Rings trilogy is fifth in the list.
Posted in Guillermo Del Toro, Hobbit Movie
July 26, 2008 at 7:37 am by MrCere
| Discuss |
The phone rang early Friday morning, informing TheOneRing.net founder and Webmaster Calisuri that there was a line of around 150 people waiting to get into the 10 a.m. speculative panel on ‘The Hobbit’. Lines at the convention, which expects over 130,000 visitors each day of the event, are not uncommon. What was unusual Friday morning was that the San Diego Convention Center hadn’t even opened yet and there shouldn’t have a been a way for the people to get there at all, much less in line. (more…)
Posted in Casting Rumors, ComicCon, Conventions, Director news, Events, Fans, Guillermo Del Toro, Hobbit Movie, Peter Jackson, Studios, The Hobbit, WETA Workshop
July 24, 2008 at 2:25 pm by MrCere
SAN DIEGO – Major media outlets from the L.A. Times to USA Today and Entertainment Weekly have converged on the San Diego Convention Center to explain the phenomenon of 150,000 popular culture enthusiasts spending a week together catching the flavor of what it means to be “geek”. (more…)
Posted in ComicCon, Conventions, Events, Hobbit Movie, Richard Taylor
July 23, 2008 at 10:51 am by Altaira
| Discuss |
From Garfeimao: The first Cruise to Middle earth was first announced at San Diego Comic Con last year, albeit with little fanfare, so it’s only fair that the second Cruise to Middle earth, also known as The Sequel, be announced there too. But I think I’ll give you a little hint here, just so you know to look for it at the convention. Oh, and comic con will be the last chance to get on to this year’s Cruise to Middle earth before the prices go up. (more…)
Posted in Events, Fans, New Zealand, Tours, WETA Workshop
July 23, 2008 at 7:48 am by MrCere
| Discuss |
There are lots of reasons to attend Comic-Con or even follow along at home as the San Diego Comic-Con becomes the very center of the popular-culture universe including a good dose of Tolkien-related material. The 2008 SDCC has a “Hobbit-centric” flavor and kicks off today (Wednesday) has plenty to keep the Middle-earth enthusiast busy including TORn’s very own sneak-peek of the forthcoming pair of movies centered around “The Hobbit.” Read on for everything you need to know about SDCC 08! (more…)
Posted in Books Publications, ComicCon, Conventions, Events, Hobbit Movie, Lectures & Education, LotR Movies, Merchandise, TheOneRing.net Announcements, WETA Workshop
July 22, 2008 at 5:53 pm by Altaira
| Source: The Frodo FranchiseComments Off on Kristin Thompson to sign copies of “The Frodo Franchise” at Comic-Con
Kristin Thompson is going to be available to sign her book “The Frodo Franchise” during Comic-Con. “I’ve come up with three one-hour time-slots when I’ll be at the booth to sign your copies of The Frodo Franchise. (If you’ve got others of my books you want signed, feel free to bring ‘em along.) I imagine I’ll have time to chat, too, if you just want to drop by. And don’t forget to buy one or two of the T-shirts designed by Weta Workshop’s Daniel Falconer. All profits from the shirts and books go to support TORN, so it’s all in a good cause. Here are the times when I’ll be at the booth:
Thursday 1:30 to 2:30
Friday 11:30 to 12:30 (That’s shortly after the TORN panel)
Sunday 1:00 to 2:00.”
Copies of “The Frodo Franchise” will be available for purchase at the Slave Boy booth (booth #5424) where TORn will be located. If you’re going to Comic-Con, be sure and take this opportunity to visit with Kristin and have your copy of “The Frodo Franchise” signed! Read More
Posted in Books Publications, ComicCon, Conventions, Events, LotR Movies, Merchandise, Other Events
July 22, 2008 at 5:27 pm by Altaira
| Source: The Frodo FranchiseComments Off on A History of LOTR Exhibits at the Wellington Airport
From our friend Kristin Thompson at The Frodo Franchise: “I’ve just posted a little history of Lord of the Rings and Peter Jackson decorations at the Wellington International Airport. There was more than just the rooftop Gollum! Fans who went through that airport in search of Middle-earth might have some pleasant memories revived by the pictures.” Pleasant memories indeed, Kristin. Read More
Posted in Exhibits, LotR Movies, New Zealand
July 22, 2008 at 2:07 pm by Compa_Mighty
| Source: EmpireComments Off on Sir Ian McKellen confirms return (again), loves director choice
| Discuss |
Forummer diedye posted this piece of news from Empire:
Speaking at a special screening of The Dark Knight at London’s Imax cinema on Monday night, he [Ian McKellen] said: “Well, I haven’t had the contract yet but it’s everyone’s intention that I play Gandalf so yes, I will be returning to the role. Although it’s not until 2010, I’m very much excited about returning.
When asked about del Toro and the look of the movie, Sir Ian answered:
Well, if you’re not going to have Peter Jackson, who else can handle the job? To get an international film-maker of his standing who adores the original trilogy, well I don’t think you could possibly find a better replacement, I think the look will be very much as it was, Weta is still involved, it’s still the same workshops, the same designers, I’ll be there, Andy Serkis (now confirmed to return as Gollum) will be there and Peter Jackson will still be around – not that he’ll interfere too much – so it’ll seem like the old family is getting back together again.
So there you go, further confirmation of several things: no one has been officially cast yet (nothing is signed), Sir Ian and Andy Serkis are to return, everyone’s on board with Guillermo del Toro and the look of the movie is expected to be relatively similar to that of the trilogy. [Empire]
Posted in Casting Rumors, Hobbit Movie, The Hobbit
July 21, 2008 at 7:20 pm by DiveTwin
| Source: USAToday.comComments Off on LOTR Helps The Dark Knight?
With Academy Award buzz circulating around Health Ledger’s frightening portrayal of The Joker as well as for the movie itself, The Dark Knight is generating all sorts of Oscar talk. A recent USA Today article reviews those topics and happens to credit another genre film that gives The Dark Knight a reason to hope. A section noted:
But through the years, as studios focused on big-budget films, “the Hollywood establishment began turning its nose up to quality movies that happened to have action,” says Steve Mason, columnist for Hollywood.com. “The sentiment became that if it’s fun or funny or escapist entertainment, it can’t be that good. Recognizing Dark Knight would be a significant step to correct that.”
It’s not impossible. In 2004, the academy finally presented a best-picture Oscar to a fantasy film, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
“I had a glimmer of hope when Return of the King won; it felt like a victory for our kinds of films,” says Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, which plans its own Oscar campaign for Iron Man and star Robert Downey Jr.
You can read the rest of the story in USA Today.
Posted in Lord of the Rings, Miscellaneous, Return of the King, Studios
From www.stuff.co.nz: New Zealand actors Jay Laga’aia and Craig Parker are playing key roles in a new American swords and scorcery television series being filmed around Auckland. Filming of Wizard’s First Rule, the first book in Terry Goodkind’s popular The Sword of Truth books began this week. But the 22-episode series has been renamed Legend of the Seeker – apparently to avoid religious concerns among American audiences about scorcery. Executive producers Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert told a comics and fantasy convention of the name change, and announced the New Zealand actors, Entertainment Weekly reported. Craig Parker Cast in Raimi’s ‘Wizard’s First Rule’
