A LEGAL battle is under way between the Oxfordshire family of JRR Tolkien and the Hollywood giant behind the new Hobbit film, it emerged last night. The heirs of the Tolkien estate, including the author’s daughter Priscilla Tolkien, 80, who lives in Wolvercote, claimed they have not been paid “even one cent” of the millions of pounds owed to them from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is believed the three films generated almost $3bn in box office receipts and another $3bn in DVDs and merchandise sales. More..
Category: Studios
Who has the best video of panels at Comic-Con? Why Comic-Con does! The folks there were kind enough (and they want some more hits too no doubt!) to send a link to their HD video with great audio over at YouTube. Of course its embeded here for your viewing ease and comfort. This was at least the third time in about 12 hours that PJ explained to an audience or press that no roles have been cast for the “The Hobbit,” the film isn’t greenlit yet and the process of handing in a finished script for the first of two films was about three or four weeks away. Enjoy!
Ringer Spy Deej sends along a few more photos and a great video of Peter Jackson talking about all things ‘Hobbit’. Take a look! More..
Quickbeam and MrCere give us the latest news on Peter Jackson’s screening of District 9 and his closed door internet journalist press conference. Those two guys are lucky! Take a look at the shirts behind them too…I want one of each MrCere!
On Tuesday, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge decided that a lawsuit filed by J.R.R. Tolkien’s heirs against New Line Cinema should be brought before a jury. In the suit, filed in February 2008, The Tolkien Trust claims New Line owes them at least $220 million of the profits collected from Peter Jackson’s film trilogy (a 1969 contract promises the author’s heirs 7.5 percent of gross receipts from films and other related products). The case will go to trial Oct. 19. ‘Lord of the Rings’ lawsuit: Judge sends case to jury
![The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Theatrical Editions) [Blu-ray]](http://www.theonering.net/torwp/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/51x3aa9fknl_sl500_aa240_-150x150.jpg "The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Theatrical Editions) [Blu-ray]")
Joel writes: Check out these review comments from people on Amazon regarding the blu-ray release of the theatrical editions. There’s a story there how, in this economy, people are angry at New Line for doing the ‘double dipping’ by releasing the theatrical first, and the extended later. It has forced the trilogy down to a 2-star average rating. I’ve not seen something quite like this before – love of the film, but such anger over a release/marketing policy. There’s 34 pages of >90% bitter reviews.
Xoanon here: I’m not too sure how much of ‘New Line Cinema’ exists, so venting to them may not help. LOTR is now a property of Warner Bros., and I assume the release schedule is of their doing. One sure fire way to get their attention is to visit this link and send them a kindly worded email expressing your disappointment. You never know, fans made LOTR a hit, and perhaps we can make a difference here as well.