LOS ANGELES, CA, January 6, 2011– Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber, MGM Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officers, Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema and Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that MGM and Warner Bros have concluded a deal for Warner Bros. Pictures to handle international theatrical and video distribution responsibilities on MGM’s behalf for Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”. This arrangement results in Warner Bros. Pictures handling the bulk of worldwide distribution, while MGM will handle international television licensing for the films. MGM and WB will work collaboratively to coordinate marketing and release plans worldwide.
Jackson, who directed all three “The Lord of the Rings” films, will helm the two films back-to-back, telling the story of “The Hobbit” from screenplays written by Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro.
The two “Hobbit” films are set to begin production in February 2011, with release dates targeted for December 2012 and December 2013. Jackson will utilize groundbreaking visual effects and his incomparable storytelling to bring Tolkien’s novel to the big screen. Both “Hobbit” movies will be filmed in Digital 3-D, using the latest camera and stereo technology to create a high quality, comfortable viewing experience.
Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Carolynne Cunningham are producing the films for New Line, Warner Bros and MGM, with co-writer Philippa Boyens serving as co-producer and Ken Kamins and Zane Weiner as executive producers. The Oscar-winning, critically acclaimed “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, also from the production team of Jackson, Walsh and Cunningham, grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box office. In 2003, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the 11 categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The trilogy’s production was also unprecedented at the time.
John Di Bartolo writes: Hail friends! Just released the first episode of “The Minstrel, the Painter, & the Scholar” with Ted Nasmith & Dr. Corey Olsen. If you would like to post a link, or even re-release/distribute this mp3 through your own sites please feel free to do so. Glad to be able to share this with you all – and feel free to forward this to any friends or fellow podcasters! Cheers! Stay tuned for episodes 2 and 3 with John, Ted & Corey.
From IGN: Electronic Arts is shutting down another slew of online game servers. Besides closing many of its now out-dated servers for its sports franchises, such as FIFA, NHL, and NCAA, EA is also doing away with its Lord of the Rings servers as well.
“Our licensing deal with Middle-earth Enterprises has expired, forcing us to shutdown the online services for The Lord of the Rings games,” EA says. “We hope you have enjoyed playing these games online and appreciate your patronage.”
EA also says that while it’s difficult shutting down servers for any game, the teams would rather focus on the more popular titles. More..
Below is the expected date for these games to go offline:
Jan 11, 2011 Online Service Shutdown
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II for Xbox 360
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II, The Rise of the Witch-king for Xbox 360
Dec 31, 2010 Online Service Shutdown
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth for PC
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II for PC
The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II, The Rise of the Witch-king for PC
Peter Jackson is making Hobbit production diaries again! Actually, well, it’s not Peter Jackson but Peeder Jigson (AKA ‘That Mitchell and Webb Look’ and ‘Saxondale’ actor James Bachman). Take a look as Peeder struggles with Hobbit financing, and house chores, apparently. Strong Language Warning. Check out Bachman’s Funny or Die page here.
In another two weeks we will finally be able to price out the roundtrip air needed to get to the cruise and back again. At that time I will be able to announce the New Zealand tour pricing, with the Australian tour options to follow shortly afterwards. Please visit our special cruise website for current details on the cruise itinerary, pricing and how to contact me for more information.
*SPECIAL OFFER* And as a nice little Mathom from me, in honor of The Professor’s birthday, here is a special incentive for all new bookings on this cruise, valid January 3-9 only. In addition to the amenities already listed for this cruise, I can now offer up to $150 of additional onboard credit. This is money that can be spent onboard for items such as spa treatments, in the shops onboard, on the Celebrity shore excursions or at the bar, among other onboard expenses. The amount is determined by the cabin category you choose, so just ask me and I’ll explain all the details. This is a really great opportunity to add some real value to a trip that promises to be amazing already. Just remember, this is for new bookings this week only.
LOS ANGELES, CA, January 6, 2011– Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber, MGM Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officers, Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema and Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that MGM and Warner Bros have concluded a deal for Warner Bros. Pictures to handle international theatrical and video distribution responsibilities on MGM’s behalf for Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”. This arrangement results in Warner Bros. Pictures handling the bulk of worldwide distribution, while MGM will handle international television licensing for the films. MGM and WB will work collaboratively to coordinate marketing and release plans worldwide.
From IGN: Electronic Arts is shutting down another slew of online game servers. Besides closing many of its now out-dated servers for its sports franchises, such as FIFA, NHL, and NCAA, EA is also doing away with its Lord of the Rings servers as well.
