Peter Jackson has hinted in the media for years and told us at TheOneRing’s own Oscar Party (not in that linked video) that he always planned to deliver a high definition ultimate edition of the LOTR trilogy.
Blu-ray sales for the LOTR trilogy were / are strong, taking the #1 position on the sales chart its first week, moving over 124,00 units despite its hefty price. But did it sell well enough? Can fans look forward to that Ultimate version to rule them all jam packed with new extras and the Extended Editions we have been waiting years for?
Nobody knows and Warner Bros. hasn’t revealed its plans, but the media is starting to pay attention to the possibilities. EE DVD architect Michael Pellerin is in-the-know (look for him soon with our very own Xoanon on TORn’s blogtalkradio) and spoke recently with Hollywoodnews.com.
In some of the highlights from the interview he said: (emphasis mine) ” . . . Thinking ahead, from the very beginning, we always saved the best for last. Now, people wouldn’t believe that because the Lord of the Rings extras were so extensive. . . . It’s very real, but right now the future of when these treasures will see the light of day is unknown. Continue reading “More hints about an ‘Ultimate’ hi-def LOTR box set that may never happen”
Linuxelf sends along more videos from back in the LOTR heyday. Take a look at Peter Jackson talking about the premiere of TTT, the TTT premiere in New Zealand and New York.
The Hollywood Reporter, is, you guessed it, reporting that the debtholders of MGMs $3.7 billion shortfall may vote to give the studio’s restructuring team a fifth chance to cover its debt.
The folks who gave the loan weren’t satisfied with the sales bids which included the reportedly highest offer from Time Warner at $1.7 billion. According to the story (which contains a super annoying AT&T banner add): “The proposal is expected to pass, giving MGM at least another several weeks to work on its restructuring.”
Quint over at Aintitcool has a report that Australian Jack Thompson is “up for Thorin in The Hobbit”. The writer labels it a “rumor” so don’t jump to any conclusions and being “up for” a film probably means he has or will have an audition.
Michael Pellerin has long been a much admired figure for his work on the standard-setting “Lord of the Rings” Extended Edition DVDs and his contributions to our sister site “KongIsKing.net” where you can still see the final goodbye from the production diaries. He is a key figure in what the world knows about the whole LOTR production. With the release of the movie trilogy on Blu-ray, Pellerin has turned in a written account that covers a lot of ground that only he is in a position to explain. It is a great read, full of interesting information:
Such as:
“Peter (Jackson) and I began talking about LOTR on HD as far back as 2001 – during the making of the films. As we knew the film would eventually be released in some yet-to-be-determined HD format, we began planning The Lord of the Rings HD Box Set from the very beginning, nearly a decade ago.”
And this bit about the ultimate box set which does not yet exist:
“We had made a very conscious decision to make everything on the original Appendices Supplemental discs very specifically about the technical process of making the three films, as told by the many, many voices of the people who made them. Therefore, anything that was not specific to that goal, or approach, we saved for the Box Set.”
His own words can be read right here, so enjoy and thanks to message board members Patty and Oscarilbo for finding the interview.
(CNN) — Before “The Lovely Bones,” the aughts had been a charmed decade for Peter Jackson.
It began with the one-two-three punch of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, a juggernaut that grossed almost $4 billion worldwide at the box office and won 17 Oscars — 11 of those, including best picture and best director, for the final chapter, “The Return of the King.”
Jackson followed “Rings” with his 2005 remake of “King Kong,” which was another huge success both at the box office and with critics. He donned his producer’s hat for 2009’s “District 9,” a low-budget South African film that made $200 million worldwide and was nominated for best picture. [Read Full Story]
Peter Jackson has hinted in the media for years and told us at TheOneRing’s own Oscar Party (not in that linked video) that he always planned to deliver a high definition ultimate edition of the LOTR trilogy. 
Quint over at 