The JRR Tolkien adaptation – one of the most expensive West End shows in history – received four nominations at the Laurence Olivier Awards. The stage version of The Lord Of The Rings is also a best new musical contender, despite mixed reviews. Other nominations include best lighting, set design, costume and sound. Sir Ian McKellen also received a ‘best actor’ nomination for his portrayal as King Lear.
The 32nd annual Laurence Olivier Awards ceremony will be held on 9 March at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, hosted by actor Richard E Grant. [More]
Howard writes: Factory: the film industry magazine celebrates its fifth birthday with the launch of a radical, online edition at 
Lord of The Rings actor Sir Ian McKellen has recorded a selection of passages from one of Wordsworth’s best-known works for a Cumbria charity. The Shakespearean actor – best known for playing Gandalf in the Tolkien film trilogy – recorded sections of The Prelude for the Wordsworth Trust. The recording, made at Wordsworth’s former home Dove Cottage in Grasmere, is being released on a new CD. 
The latest addition to The Lord of the Rings Diorama series from Sideshow Collectibles is ‘.’ Sideshow previewed this item for the first time last night and we expect it to start pre-ordering next Thursday with their newsletter launch. Click on the following link to view the full preview and while you’re there, check out the other LOTR dioramas. [] []
Soon after actor Richard Harris died, there was a lot of talk that Ian McKellen — another premier British actor — could take over the role of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films. For McKellen, however, it was never an option. “People say to me, ‘Don’t you wish you’d played Dumbledore? I say, ‘No!’ I played Gandalf. The original.” McKellen shared those comments with Ireland Online about this character from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. But McKellen’s refusal to take on the role seemed to have more to do than simply what character from which franchise was superior.