Wired.com writes: From heated news on the forthcoming Hobbit films — The Office’s Martin Freeman as Bilbo? — to Tuesday’s Blu-ray release of Peter Jackson’s supernova The Lord of the Rings adaptation, J.R.R. Tolkien’s sprawling epic is ruling the news cycle just as it has ruled the fantasy genre for decades. We’re leaping into the fray with a gallery of our favorite fantasy film epics, led by Jackson’s Oscar-winning trilogy.

We’re also handing off an engorged Lord of the Rings prize package to sate one lucky Sméagol obsessively combing the internets for a precious fix. It includes Blu-ray discs for all three films — The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King — as well bookmarks, a jade necklace, a blue ornament, a deck of cards and a travel candle. One prize package to rule them all, as Gandalf might have said, if he were cleaning out New Line Cinema’s promotional warehouse. More..


Things are moving in the Hobbit world; there are rumors afoot of castings, contracts, scripts and even start dates. It’s all very exciting and if you were at TORn’s panels at DragonCon this year, you were prepared for it!

Yes, TheOneRing.net was present again this year at one of the world’s biggest fan-based convention. Staffers from TORn ran a table over the course of the weekend, where we had the great pleasure of chatting to fans, meeting regular TORn visitors, catching up with old friends and faithful supporters, and introducing newbies to the joys of the website. Over the four days of the convention we gave out freebies, distributed candy to those brave enough to answer Tolkien trivia, sold t-shirts to help keep the website attending conventions and events, and provided the fun of the ‘Don’t you know you’re [sic] Sam?’ photo opportunity! Apologies Samwise fans, but we decapitated Sam in a hobbit standee, so folks could pose with their head in his place; and all kinds of aliens, cartoon characters, heroes and villains stepped up over the weekend to
offer to ‘share the load…’ For images from the weekend click here. Lots more written details after the break! Continue reading “The official ‘DragonCon 2010’ report (and photos!)”

Ringer Kookie sends us this link to The Bolton News where Ian McKellen was promoting a new project, but also spoke briefly on The Hobbit films. Everyone’s favorite Gandalf confirms recent reports that the planned start of filming is January 2011.

FILMING on The Hobbit, the long-awaited prequel to The Lord of the Rings, should start in the new year, according to former Bolton School boy Sir Ian McKellen.

“The aim is to start filming in January,” he said.

Learn more about his new project through the following link. [Read More]

A recommendation to ban the construction of dams on a Central Otago river to protect a rare fish called Gollum, named from The Hobbit book, has been hailed as a major victory by environmental groups.

A tribunal – appointed by the Ministry for the Environment – decided to protect the “bug eyed” fish came after receiving submissions from anglers, environmental groups, gold-miners, skiers and kayakers favouring further protection of the Nevis river.

[Full Story at NZHerald.co.nz]

File this under the unusual news of the day (via Monkeyday.org)…

New babies are showing up regularly at the Philadelphia Zoo this year. The latest is the aye-aye, born July 14, joining other recent giraffe and orangutan births.

The aye-aye boy, born to mom Medusa and dad Tolkien, was named Smeagol after his resemblance to the Lord of the Rings character, according to a release by the zoo.

Smeagol already has started to leave the nest box to explore his exhibit at the Zoo’s Peco Primate Reserve.

Check out all the pics at MonkeyDay.org.

“ELYSIUM” COMPILATION ALBUM CURATED BY ELIJAH WOOD AVAILABLE STARTING TODAY, EXCLUSIVELY IN THE ITUNES STORE

BENEFIT FOR THE ART OF ELYSIUM FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TRACKS FROM SONIC YOUTH, THE KILLS, WHITE DENIM AND MORE

Los Angeles, CA – Renowned actor Elijah Wood has curated a new compilation album, “Elysium,” available today exclusively on the iTunes store to benefit The Art of Elysium and its Music Programming, which brings music into the lives of hospitalized children. The album includes exclusive tracks from Sonic Youth, The Kills, White Denim and Earthless, among others, and also features tracks from Sleigh Bells, Sleepy Sun, Ty Segall, Black Mountain and more. Apple, the artists, and the labels will donate their proceeds to The Art of Elysium, which encourages actors, artists and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions. Go to www.elysiumsessions.org for more info. Continue reading “Elijah Wood Album Available on Itunes”