Message board member Woodyend alerts us to an upcoming judgement in the case of Christopher Tolkien vs. New Line Cinema. The lawsuit claims the Tolkien family is owed £80m by New Line Cinema under a deal for a 7.5% share of profits that was signed in 1969. Here is an excerpt of what The Times Online reported back on May 25th:
“At a hearing on June 6 Christopher Tolkien will ask a Californian judge to back his claim that he can “terminate” film rights to The Hobbit. He is said to be furious with the New Line studio, which earned £3 billion from the Rings trilogy. Tolkien’s lawyers accuse New Line of “accounting chicanery”. Warner Bros, owner of New Line, declined to comment.”
Sounds like things could get heated! TORn will update Ringers on any developments as they come in to our email. For some great reporting and perspective on this story, check out our good friend Kristen Thompson’s ‘Frodo Franchise’ blog as well. [Times Online] [Frodo Franchise]
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A relative of one of Birmingham’s most famous sons has stepped in to boost one of the city’s biggest regeneration projects. Metal sculptor Tim Tolkien, great-nephew of The Hobbit writer JRR Tolkien, is working with fellow artist Eric Klein Velderman and a group of children on a giant piece of artwork for the Icknield Port Loop, in Ladywood. The work, a rectangle of mirrored polished steel, was unveiled at a ceremony attended by some of the 150 children involved in creating it. The structure, which resembles a monster-sized photograph frame, will have pride of the place in the new-look canalside area when the ambitious scheme is finished. Relative of JRR Tolkein boosts regeneration project
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From TimesOnline.com: “Christopher Tolkien, 83, is calling for “one last crusade” in a long-running court battle against the producers of The Lord of the Rings only weeks before carpenters are due to begin work in New Zealand on the sets for the latest Middle-earth epic.” Read more (Thanks to Ringer Spy J for the link)
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Beren over at the Tolkien Library has just released his interview with Andrew Moreton. Moreton has written a book on one of the lesser-known, but possibly quite influential people in Tolkien’s early years: His Aunt Neave. Owner of the farm called Bag End, and a woman of wit, learning and strength, her relationship with her famous nephew is explored for the first time in the book Tolkien’s Gedling.
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Message Board member ‘And Back Again’ pointed us to the following story at Times Online:
A rare first edition of The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is expected to raise £30,000 at auction. The last photograph of Tolkien is also being auctioned at Bonhams, London, on March 18. It was taken in 1973 by his grandson Michael in the Botanic Garden, Oxford, and shows him standing beside his favourite tree. A note on the back written by Priscilla, his daughter, says: “For Elaine with love from Priscilla.” The book is also dedicated to Elaine Griffiths, the friend who urged him to have The Hobbit published. Other lots include illustrations by Tolkien and a copy of Farmer Giles of Ham.
Read the full story at Times Online. [Read More]
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TORn has long been noted for reporting even the most obscure Tolkien related news (much to the chagrine of many hardcore fans – What? You don’t want to know how Orlando’s breakfast was this morning?). So we can’t necessarily be too discerning when it comes to obscure Tolkien family related news. Ringer Smeagirl sends us a link to UK’s The Sun with news about one of Tolkien’s great-grandsons who may be taking ‘pipeweed’ as a way of life! [Read more…] Feel free to voice your opinion on whether we should even report this story via our Message Boards.
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