HarperCollins is starting its celebrations for the 75th anniversary of The Hobbit ahead of time, with the publication of a collection of Tolkien’s artwork and a “cute” pocket-sized edition of the novel at the end of this month.
The Hobbit was first published in September 1937, but HarperCollins estates publisher David Brawn said it was beginning its celebrations early to pre-empt the excitement about Peter Jackson’s film version, starring Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, which will be released in December 2012.
HarperCollins estimates around one third of the UK population will see “The Hobbit” film. Brawn said: “Since ‘The Lord of the Rings’ films, The Hobbit has played second fiddle—now it’s going to be the turn of The Hobbit to have that focus on it. We said: ‘Let’s jump in there and celebrate Tolkien before everyone starts to celebrate Peter Jackson as director of the film.'” More..
*Programming Change to 5:30pm PDT* Welcome Ringer fans! For today’s installment of TORn TUESDAYS (our weekly streaming video call-in show) we are thrilled to bring you an exclusive LIVE interview with legendary fantasy author Peter S. Beagle — co-scripter of the Ralph Bakshi 1978 LORD OF THE RINGS animated epic and author of THE LAST UNICORN — ahead of his appearance alongside TheOneRing.net at New York Comic-Con! We will converse on many Hobbity things, but expect a *huge announcement* or two for LAST UNICORN fans especially. You can interact live and pose your questions to Mr. Beagle in our Barliman’s chatroom, built-in to our LIVE event section at 5:30PM Pacific Daylight Time! [LIVE Event Area] (TORn Tuesday will take place from approx 5:30-7pm PT – See All Times)
TheOneRing.net proudly presents an exclusive special LIVE interview with Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of “The Last Unicorn,” Peter S. Beagle, tomorrow Oct. 11th, on our weekly show TORn Tuesdays! Hosted by long-time staffer Clifford Broadway, aka Quickbeam, we bring Peter directly to the fans in a most innovative way! Expect BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS and intimate conversation with this beloved author and friend to Ringers around the world, ahead of his appearance at New York Comic-Con. Fans may participate and interact live, posing questions in our Barliman’s chatroom. Check out the broadcast in our LIVE event section at 5:00PM Pacific Time! [LIVE Event Area] (TORn Tuesday will take place from approx 5-7pm PT – See All Times)
Staffer Kristin Thompson has written from the road with a great giveaway item and a hot rumor. Expect this TORn exclusive to heat up the internet today but it seems the spy network has checked in. Kristin says:
“At MIPCOM, a television trade show held in Cannes on October 3 to 6, this great bag with an image of Bilbo was being given away. It’s trademarked by New Line Cinema and MGM. Rumor has it that a few minutes of footage from THE HOBBIT were also screened!” Continue reading “Exclusive: The first screening of ‘Hobbit’ footage?”
This week on Hobbit in 5 – Evangeline Lilly opens up about playing Tauriel, Sir Ian McKellen is now a pub owner, Peter Jackson gives an interview to the NZ Prime Minister, a very talented group creates a massive LEGO LOTR recreation and new pics of the dwarves are released!
Parting is such sweet sorrow (there will be spoilers for the last few Harry Potter films)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was a wonderfully creative film with a more unique look due to a new director. But the film franchise always had the same set of Producers, and thank goodness for that. They were the real shepherds to make sure Rowling’s story stayed the course. After all, this series of stories was turning into an epic tale of good versus evil, and there were character arcs to maintain, bits that had to be dropped in to earlier films so that they could pay off in later films. When Dobby first showed up, didn’t you wonder if he was just going to be another Jar Jar Binks? Who knew that he’d be so important to the story later on, or that you’d cry at the end of Deathly Hallows part 1 when he dies? But we also had to have knowledge of the basis of the Horcruxes and the qualities of the Sword of Gryffindor and learn about Polyjuice potion and dueling and the Room of Requirement too. So Prisoner of Azkaban was followed by the Goblet of Fire, and we get our first death and our first indication of the seriousness of this epic battle in the making. We were now getting the type of high drama we’d gotten in the Lord of the Rings. This was followed by Order of the Phoenix, and another high profile death, coupled with a really spectacular duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort.
HarperCollins is starting its celebrations for the 75th anniversary of The Hobbit ahead of time, with the publication of a collection of Tolkien’s artwork and a “cute” pocket-sized edition of the novel at the end of this month.
