The long badge lines and crazy costums have begun, friends-not-seen since last year abound and anticipation and fun are underway – DragonCon 2008 is officially open.  TORn is preparing for its 2:30 p.m. Hobbit Spy panel today and again Saturday at 5:30 p.m..  Friends from “Reclaiming The Blade,” a documentary sword film that involves many of the key people in front and behind the camera on “The Lord of the Rings,” contacted us and made an incredible offer. Narrated by John-Rhys Davies, the film seems like to be a fan favorite, but the film’s director Daniel McNicoll contacted TORn yesterday and offered to world premeire the film’s trailer at the TORn panel and is providing a genuine sword to be given away during Saturday’s panel. Stay tuned for more details and hopefully photos of the sights and sounds that is DragonCon!

DragonCon 2008That low rumble you hear from the depths of the Internet is the annual DragonCon in Atlanta waking up from its slumber. While Smaug the Magnificent is waiting in the wings of the hearts of fantasy and movie-lovers everywhere, DragonCon 2008 has no shortage of build for the forthcoming pair of Hobbit-themed movies; and as we seem to be every year, TheOneRing.net is in the middle of it. Continue reading “TORn Goes to DragonCon”

Rachael Livermore, Co-Chair, Aetherica writes: Please see below for an announcement of a new convention for fantasy fans. This is a non-profit convention run by fans including several past and present Tolkien Society committee members. Continue reading “Aetherica 2009 Announcement”

billyboyd4 Happy Birthday Billy Boyd! Billy Boyd (born 28 August 1968) is a Scottish actor and musician most widely known for playing the characters Peregrin “Pippin” Took in the film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings and Barrett Bonden in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

boxlotrAt the recent gaming convention GenCon, Fantasy Flight Games (publisher of the Lord of the Rings and War of the Ring boardgames) released some new details on the forthdoming ‘Middle-earth Quest’ adventure boardgame, as reported on boardgamegeek.com by one G. Purcell (bracketed
remarks are mine
):

  • It *is* still in development [some feared it had been abandoned]
  • The time period is after Bilbo left the Shire, but before the Lord of the Rings book [sic – he presumably means ‘before the Shadow of the Past visit by Gandalf’]
  • You won’t play the LotR heroes, but will encounter them (i.e. Aragorn, off looking for Gollum)
  • The box size is … about the size of War of the Ring box [not ultra-huge like their StarCraft and World of Warcraft boardgames]
  • It contains some exciting new mechanics that they’re not ready to announce yet
  • It’s being designed by [FFG founder and sometimes game designer] Christian Petersen himself
  • Current estimate of release is Spring 2009

[Fantasy Flight Games Website]

082708_hobbitIt has been well documented that Guillermo del Toro will approach the original The Lord of the Rings cast to reprise their roles in Middle-earth should the script call for it. News comes today from the MTV Movie Blog that one such actor, John Noble, won’t be available:

“If they said, ‘Would you come and play Denethor again,’” Noble said, “I would have to say, ‘No, I’m doing [new J.J. Abrams television series] ‘Fringe’! And I certainly couldn’t play a younger Denethor or even Ecthelion now that I’m an older John. Not even with makeup.”

For the full story, jump on over to the MTV Movie Blog. [Read More]