Now that the movies are over, many fans of J.R.R. Tolkien have asked the staff of TheOneRing.net “What happens next?” The first and most important answer is – nothing is ending – we aren’t going anywhere! TheOneRing.net will continue to be the Internet’s premier home for J.R.R. Tolkien related news and information, as well as providing regular updates on the comings and goings of the cast and crew of all the films.
The forums, the chat-rooms, the headlines, the Facebook page, the Twitter feed, the book discussions, TORn Tuesdays, Happy Hobbit, and everything else, will all still be there for your enjoyment, and will continue to produce new material. There is so much to look forward to! Examples: The video releases of the third Hobbit film and hopefully boxed sets after that. The continued support of Tolkien in local communities as groups of people hold local events to which all are welcome – picnics, potlucks, readings, costume parties and so much more. The celebration of the creative side of things – where people produce art and writing that is inspired by Tolkien’s vision.
All of this, and more, will continue to be celebrated and reported by TheOneRing.net.
In the meantime, the staff of TheOneRing.net is looking to the future and pondering how to improve the site – we are calling this effort “TOR.n 4.0.” What features of the site work well? What parts need to be improved? What should be easy to do that isn’t? All of these questions are being asked and we realize that the most important input has to come from all of you – the supporters and users of this site! Without you and your support we couldn’t be here!
Therefore, in the weeks and months ahead, expect us to poll, query and solicit your input – we will need it and it will certainly be welcome.
It’s important to remember that while the movies brought many of us to the writing of JRR Tolkien, and we are glad they did, millions of fans supported and loved Tolkien’s writing and the lifestyles and ethics described in them, for decades before the films came around. It was the pre-existing love of Tolkien that brought the founders and early staff together in the first place, before the first movie was released back in 2001. This popular support of Tolkien will continue to exist going forward, we believe for decades to come. We want to remain part of this! We have been touched and honored by your support for TORn, and look forward to continuing to serve the needs of the Tolkien fan community.