Popular webzine io9 says that 2012 is the year for fantasy and urban-fantasy at Comic-Con. And, with the line-up featuring The Hobbit, Breaking Dawn, ParaNorman, The Legend of Korra, Game Of Thrones, and True Blood, Teen Wolf, 666 Park Avenue, Supernatural and Beauty And The Beast (plus much more), it’s a proposition that’s difficult to dispute. There’s also this paragraph buried near the bottom of the article:

True, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel is rumored to be revealing a trailer, but what is a short trailer compared to actual panel time (and footage) with Peter Jackson?

Now, I don’t think I’ve seen any official word that Jackson will or won’t be in attendance. But I think this is some good guesswork (or perhaps an inside tip).

Consider: the wrap party for the Hobbit is on July 7 (Connolly is startlingly specific compared to McKellen’s much more vague comment that filming would conclude by the end of July. Comic-con starts July 11. Do you think the boss of the show wouldn’t attend the big promotional launch of his film at one of the world’s key fantasy-sf conventions?

[More] | [TORn’s SDCC Panel]

Wellywood may be the home of The Hobbit, but Wellington’s cinemas are yet to make the technological shift so Kiwis can see it in all its double-frame glory.

The Dominion Post reports that, while most cinemas plan to install technology necessary to watch the film in 48-frames-per-second (fps), none of those the paper spoke to today had yet upgraded.

According to the paper, Miramar’s Roxy Cinema — refitted with the help of Oscar-winning big names Sir Peter Jackson, Sir Richard Taylor, and Jamie Selkirk — will have the tech in time for The Hobbit’s general release, but others such as Paramount Cinema in Courtenay Pl and Penthouse Cinema in Brooklyn have no plans to make the shift.

[More]

Tourism New Zealand chief executive officer Kevin BowlerThe DVD package of Peter Jackson’s first Hobbit film An Unexpected Journey will be released mid-2013, according to Tourism New Zealand boss Kevin Bowler. Speaking today in Queenstown, he revealed it will also contain a New Zealand tourism feature directed by Jackson himself.

No word in the article on whether the DVD will be an “extended edition”. Cheers to Eldaria for the spot.

[More]

A-list movie names Elijah Wood and Sir Peter Jackson have thrown their weight behind the V48 Hours film competition, taking part in the judging of this year’s Grand National Final — including a film that didn’t start shooting until seven hours before the deadline.

The competition, which started in 2003, gives teams just 48 hours to create, shoot and submit a short film that must contain certain elements, and in a certain genre.

[More]

News parody website The Onion strikes with this satirical article about Peter Jackson’s “genius marketing campaign”.

“Did I show you the birthday card I got from Bilbo this year?” added Jackson, holding up a pile of leaves. “He always remembers to send one. He’s a very special hobbit.”

[More]

Welcome to our collection of TORn’s hottest topics for the past week. If you’ve fallen behind on what’s happening on the Message Boards, here’s a great way to catch the highlights. Or if you’re new to TORn and want to enjoy some great conversations, just follow the links to some of our most popular discussions. Watch this space as every weekend we will spotlight the most popular buzz on TORn’s Message Boards. Everyone is welcome, so come on in and join in the fun!

Continue reading “TORn Message Boards Weekly Roundup – June 11 2012”