As The Lord of the Rings franchise continues to expand with the upcoming second season of Prime Video series Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and two new films in the works centering Gollum, it can’t help revisiting New Line’s original trilogy of films based on Tolkien’s trilogy including The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
However, if one wishes to view all existing live-action films in chronological order, the three films based on Tolkien’s The Hobbit — An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies come first in the timeline of Middle Earth. The trilogy based on The Hobbit came out ten years after the original Lord of the Rings films.
Read on to find out how to watch the Lord of the Rings films in order.
However, if one wishes to view all existing live-action films in chronological order, the three films based on Tolkien’s The Hobbit — An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies come first in the timeline of Middle Earth. The trilogy based on The Hobbit came out ten years after the original Lord of the Rings films.
Read on to find out how to watch the Lord of the Rings films in order.
- 5/16/2024
- by Dessi Gomez
- Deadline Film + TV
Actor and filmmaker Andy Serkis, who became famous for his turn as Gollum in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" film trilogies, has been tapped to direct and star in the new "Lord of the Rings" film "Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum," as reported by Variety. Jackson will also be heavily involved in the new round of "Lord of the Rings" movies, and will have a producer credit on "The Hunt for Gollum." Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" co-writers Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh are also producing "The Hunt for Gollum" and are currently developing the script with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. This news comes from the latest earnings call for Warner Bros. Discovery, in which company CEO David Zaslav said that Jackson, Boyens, and Walsh "will be involved every step of the way" with the new "Lord of the Rings" movies.
- 5/9/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Warner Bros. Discovery added two million direct-to-consumer subscribers in Q1 and it didn’t even have Anduril, Flame of the West to rally its following. Yet.
As part of the quarterly earnings call this morning, Wbd CEO David Zaslav let us gaze into his palantir and see a bit of the future his development execs have planned for future films set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. First up, and planned for a 2026 release, “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” directed by Andy Serkis, who shot to fame playing the title character himself. Warner Bros. does caveat that “The Hunt for Gollum” is a working title.
Serkis has been one of the leading pioneers of motion-capture technology with his performance of the split-personality villain, one of the most popular characters of the entire saga powered by the actor’s unique, squeaky-gravelly voice and Tolkien’s exceptional writing, adapted...
As part of the quarterly earnings call this morning, Wbd CEO David Zaslav let us gaze into his palantir and see a bit of the future his development execs have planned for future films set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. First up, and planned for a 2026 release, “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” directed by Andy Serkis, who shot to fame playing the title character himself. Warner Bros. does caveat that “The Hunt for Gollum” is a working title.
Serkis has been one of the leading pioneers of motion-capture technology with his performance of the split-personality villain, one of the most popular characters of the entire saga powered by the actor’s unique, squeaky-gravelly voice and Tolkien’s exceptional writing, adapted...
- 5/9/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
It looks like Warner Bros. Discovery is going back for second breakfast.
Variety reported that fast work is underway for a new “Lord of the Rings” film, with Warner Bros. hoping to get it into theaters within two years. The project will focus on the character of Gollum/Smeagol and comes from director Andy Serkis, the actor who played the character in the early films.
Script development for the film, tentatively titled “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” is underway, according to CEO David Zaslav, who spoke about the new project during the Wbd earning call. Moreover, the originators of the Oscar-winning trilogy (and highly profitable “Hobbit” prequel trilogy) director Peter Jackson and co-writers Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens “will be involved every step of the way.”
Amazon famously bought the rights to all things Middle Earth in late 2017 directly from the Tolkien estate for $250 million. This...
Variety reported that fast work is underway for a new “Lord of the Rings” film, with Warner Bros. hoping to get it into theaters within two years. The project will focus on the character of Gollum/Smeagol and comes from director Andy Serkis, the actor who played the character in the early films.
Script development for the film, tentatively titled “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” is underway, according to CEO David Zaslav, who spoke about the new project during the Wbd earning call. Moreover, the originators of the Oscar-winning trilogy (and highly profitable “Hobbit” prequel trilogy) director Peter Jackson and co-writers Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens “will be involved every step of the way.”
Amazon famously bought the rights to all things Middle Earth in late 2017 directly from the Tolkien estate for $250 million. This...
- 5/9/2024
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
It’s been a bit since a few of the Lord of the Rings guys got together. So naturally, they had to go out and raise a glass of Ent-draught.
The group appeared at Liverpool Comic Con this weekend, and Dominic Monaghan posted an Instagram photo of himself and his costars Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, and Billy Boyd happily posing.
“3 hobbits and an elf and the Conversation tonight was Vaulted,” Monaghan captioned the snapshot.
Lady Arwen (Liv Tyler) also commented, “Ohhhhhh too much...
The group appeared at Liverpool Comic Con this weekend, and Dominic Monaghan posted an Instagram photo of himself and his costars Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, and Billy Boyd happily posing.
“3 hobbits and an elf and the Conversation tonight was Vaulted,” Monaghan captioned the snapshot.
Lady Arwen (Liv Tyler) also commented, “Ohhhhhh too much...
- 5/5/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
7 Sexiest Characters in The Hobbit Trilogy - Main Image
When you hear The Hobbit, you probably think of epic quests, magical creatures, and brave warriors in the Middle Earth. But if you look a little closer, you'll find a surprising charm and charisma among the characters—accents and all.
In this list, we will rank the characters from The Hobbit Trilogy—yes, the characters, not the humans who play them. This is our “hear me out” moment, and by the end of this list, you will agree (or not).
Here's our list of the top 6 sexiest characters from The Hobbit Trilogy.
7. Bilbo Baggins
This hobbit has quiet courage and an endearing earnestness. Bilbo's intelligence, wit, and resilience make him more than just the "burglar" of the group. His unexpected bravery in the face of danger and his compassion for others make him incredibly appealing.
And let's not forget his...
When you hear The Hobbit, you probably think of epic quests, magical creatures, and brave warriors in the Middle Earth. But if you look a little closer, you'll find a surprising charm and charisma among the characters—accents and all.
In this list, we will rank the characters from The Hobbit Trilogy—yes, the characters, not the humans who play them. This is our “hear me out” moment, and by the end of this list, you will agree (or not).
Here's our list of the top 6 sexiest characters from The Hobbit Trilogy.
7. Bilbo Baggins
This hobbit has quiet courage and an endearing earnestness. Bilbo's intelligence, wit, and resilience make him more than just the "burglar" of the group. His unexpected bravery in the face of danger and his compassion for others make him incredibly appealing.
And let's not forget his...
- 5/3/2024
- EpicStream
Martin Freeman-starring series “The Responder” has revealed first-look photos of its anticipated second season.
Produced by Fremantle’s Dancing Ledge Productions, it’s set to debut on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on May 5 and will be available on BritBox this summer. Fremantle is handling global distribution. It has also released a trailer.
Written by Tony Schumacher, it will see its conflicted protagonist, police officer Chris, “trying to find his way out of the woods.”
“I am abusing this metaphor, but it’s an evolution. He thinks his life is going to be O.K.,” Schumacher told Variety.
“He has decided to take matters into his own hands,” added Freeman, as Chris finally – and reluctantly – tries therapy.
“He goes: ‘I am going to give it a go, maybe I will learn something.’ It’s about putting yourself in a situation where you can actually get some help. He is...
Produced by Fremantle’s Dancing Ledge Productions, it’s set to debut on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on May 5 and will be available on BritBox this summer. Fremantle is handling global distribution. It has also released a trailer.
Written by Tony Schumacher, it will see its conflicted protagonist, police officer Chris, “trying to find his way out of the woods.”
“I am abusing this metaphor, but it’s an evolution. He thinks his life is going to be O.K.,” Schumacher told Variety.
“He has decided to take matters into his own hands,” added Freeman, as Chris finally – and reluctantly – tries therapy.
“He goes: ‘I am going to give it a go, maybe I will learn something.’ It’s about putting yourself in a situation where you can actually get some help. He is...
- 4/29/2024
- by Marta Balaga and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Recently, the Corridor Crew YouTube channel added the 130th video to their 'VFX Artists React' series. The crew took a look at special effects from a few movies, including recent releases like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Wonder Woman 1984.
These CGI extravaganzas drew some criticisms from the team, while they were pleasantly surprised by the effects from different movie – one that is more than four decades old.
The Killer Car
In the 1983 film Christine, an awkward teenager named Arnie falls in love with a busted up 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine. Christine has a long and violent history – when a factory worker dropped cigarette ash on her, he was later found dead in the car. Since then, at least three other people have died in Christine.
As Arnie works to lovingly restore the car, his personality changes from a sweet and bumbling nerd to a rebellious and arrogant bad boy.
These CGI extravaganzas drew some criticisms from the team, while they were pleasantly surprised by the effects from different movie – one that is more than four decades old.
The Killer Car
In the 1983 film Christine, an awkward teenager named Arnie falls in love with a busted up 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine. Christine has a long and violent history – when a factory worker dropped cigarette ash on her, he was later found dead in the car. Since then, at least three other people have died in Christine.
As Arnie works to lovingly restore the car, his personality changes from a sweet and bumbling nerd to a rebellious and arrogant bad boy.
- 4/23/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
Minutes into the medieval intro of “The Faceless Lady,” a fair maiden rips off her face. You immediately feel a bit nauseated. But did the violence trigger that reaction — or is it the fact that the action seems to be happening somewhere deep in your visual cortex?
“The Faceless Lady,” a collaboration between Meta and producer Eli Roth, is billed as “the first known scripted original VR live action, stereoscopic (3D) series ever produced of its size.” Although it’s designed for the Meta’s Quest headset, the story and scope seem wide enough to exist out of the headset. It’s a complete package that could bring fresh eyes to next-gen storytelling.
The six-episode undertaking, written by Jerome Velinsky and directed by John William Ross, is an escape room spin on ghostly lore. Three twentysomething couples head to the mysterious Kilolc Castle in Ireland to play deadly games for...
“The Faceless Lady,” a collaboration between Meta and producer Eli Roth, is billed as “the first known scripted original VR live action, stereoscopic (3D) series ever produced of its size.” Although it’s designed for the Meta’s Quest headset, the story and scope seem wide enough to exist out of the headset. It’s a complete package that could bring fresh eyes to next-gen storytelling.
The six-episode undertaking, written by Jerome Velinsky and directed by John William Ross, is an escape room spin on ghostly lore. Three twentysomething couples head to the mysterious Kilolc Castle in Ireland to play deadly games for...
- 4/4/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Forbes Billionaires List 2024: From Taylor Swift To Others; Check Out Who Else Is On This List ( Photo Credit – Instagram )
Taylor Swift had a great year in 2023, from finding love in Travis Kelce to winning the Grammys [her winning streak continued this year, too], and her blockbuster concert movie The Eras Tour let her be in the limelight all throughout and in a good way. The results of her hard work are reflected in her bank balance as she finally became a billionaire and is on the Forbes Billionaires 2024 list.
Besides Taylor, thirteen other celebrities have earned a place on this list, and their fans are thrilled for their idols. The list also includes R&b singer Rihanna, but can you guess the celebrity with the highest net Worth? Scroll below to find out.
Forbes Billionaires 2024 list contains celebrities from various fields, from music to sports, TV, and cinema. Besides Taylor Swift, the Queen of All Media,...
Taylor Swift had a great year in 2023, from finding love in Travis Kelce to winning the Grammys [her winning streak continued this year, too], and her blockbuster concert movie The Eras Tour let her be in the limelight all throughout and in a good way. The results of her hard work are reflected in her bank balance as she finally became a billionaire and is on the Forbes Billionaires 2024 list.
Besides Taylor, thirteen other celebrities have earned a place on this list, and their fans are thrilled for their idols. The list also includes R&b singer Rihanna, but can you guess the celebrity with the highest net Worth? Scroll below to find out.
Forbes Billionaires 2024 list contains celebrities from various fields, from music to sports, TV, and cinema. Besides Taylor Swift, the Queen of All Media,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Esita Mallik
- KoiMoi
The glamorous (and handsomely paid) actors and actresses who bring our favorite films and TV shows to life often captivate us, but let us not forget that the real heroes are the artistic wizards behind the camera: the directors. They are in charge of choosing the ideal cast and setting the overall direction of the production, which includes what you see on screen.
Christopher Nolan, the genius behind Inception and Interstellar, and James Cameron, the maestro of Terminator to Titanic who maintained the excitement for Avatar 2 in 2022, more than ten years after the first film’s release, are two auteurs who established their careers through writing and directing in their own iconic styles.
James Cameron’s Avatar
But, move over Nolan and Cameron; there are some other industry giants on the list of the highest-earning directors in Tinseltown. Notwithstanding their enormous professional success, these two legendary directors pale in...
Christopher Nolan, the genius behind Inception and Interstellar, and James Cameron, the maestro of Terminator to Titanic who maintained the excitement for Avatar 2 in 2022, more than ten years after the first film’s release, are two auteurs who established their careers through writing and directing in their own iconic styles.
James Cameron’s Avatar
But, move over Nolan and Cameron; there are some other industry giants on the list of the highest-earning directors in Tinseltown. Notwithstanding their enormous professional success, these two legendary directors pale in...
- 4/3/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
Over 15 years since Peter Jackson transported moviegoers to cinematic Middle Earth glory with the triumphant Lord of the Rings trilogy, Denis Villeneuve’s sprawling Dune saga aims to recapture that meticulous world-building spirit and sense of grand fantasy awe. Early reactions indicate March’s Dune: Part Two may achieve just that with the visionary director’s operatic, star-powered sequel earning near-universal raves on par with Jackson’s signature Hobbit highs.
Does Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 2 Match Lotr Battle Scenes?
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in Dune 2
As per Variety, after mixed responses to his cerebral first Dune chapter, even skeptical critics now hail Denis Villeneuve’s follow-up as a triumph, one Inverse’s Hoai-Tran Bui calls “Two Towers-level mastery of battle sequences.” The film reportedly outdoes its predecessor on every level, realizing the full scope and emotional power of Frank Herbert’s seminal novel through set pieces and...
Does Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 2 Match Lotr Battle Scenes?
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in Dune 2
As per Variety, after mixed responses to his cerebral first Dune chapter, even skeptical critics now hail Denis Villeneuve’s follow-up as a triumph, one Inverse’s Hoai-Tran Bui calls “Two Towers-level mastery of battle sequences.” The film reportedly outdoes its predecessor on every level, realizing the full scope and emotional power of Frank Herbert’s seminal novel through set pieces and...
- 2/16/2024
- by Nivedita Dubey
- FandomWire
Sherlock Holmes has received numerous screen adaptations both canon and not, and many actors have also transformed themselves into the legendary detective, such as Jeremy Brett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr., and Henry Cavill.
BBC’s Sherlock
A new series following the adventures of the famed mystery solver is confirmed to be in the works at The CW, and it will feature a new Sherlock Holmes as well as a very intriguing twist to the story.
SUGGESTEDBenedict Cumberbatch Hates One Thing About Marvel’s Avengers Movies: “Five minutes, that’s all the time they have” The CW Orders Sherlock & Daughter Series
A new project entitled Sherlock & Daughter is now brewing at The CW with actor David Thewlis in the lead. Fans will find the title a bit different from the previous iterations of the detective thriller, and this unique spin will certainly attract audiences.
The plot of the upcoming show...
BBC’s Sherlock
A new series following the adventures of the famed mystery solver is confirmed to be in the works at The CW, and it will feature a new Sherlock Holmes as well as a very intriguing twist to the story.
SUGGESTEDBenedict Cumberbatch Hates One Thing About Marvel’s Avengers Movies: “Five minutes, that’s all the time they have” The CW Orders Sherlock & Daughter Series
A new project entitled Sherlock & Daughter is now brewing at The CW with actor David Thewlis in the lead. Fans will find the title a bit different from the previous iterations of the detective thriller, and this unique spin will certainly attract audiences.
The plot of the upcoming show...
- 2/16/2024
- by Ariane Cruz
- FandomWire
“Lord of the Rings” owner Embracer revealed its Q3 results were boosted by licensing revenue from the Tolkien IP despite being lower than expected overall.
Embracer, a Swedish gaming conglomerate who snapped up the rights to “Lord of the Rings” two years ago, has undergone a severe restructuring program over the past year, which has seen the company shut down or dispose of dozens of games studios and titles and lay off hundreds of staff, resulting in aftershocks that have reverberated throughout the games industry.
Its latest report, published Thursday, the company revealed it had cut 8% of its global workforce. That number likely does not include those working on a freelance basis.
Despite this, Wingefors admitted the company is unlikely to reach its target of lowering its net debt to Sek 8 billion ($761 million) by March 31. He warned that Embracer still has “a few larger structured divestment processes ongoing that could strengthen our balance sheet.
Embracer, a Swedish gaming conglomerate who snapped up the rights to “Lord of the Rings” two years ago, has undergone a severe restructuring program over the past year, which has seen the company shut down or dispose of dozens of games studios and titles and lay off hundreds of staff, resulting in aftershocks that have reverberated throughout the games industry.
Its latest report, published Thursday, the company revealed it had cut 8% of its global workforce. That number likely does not include those working on a freelance basis.
Despite this, Wingefors admitted the company is unlikely to reach its target of lowering its net debt to Sek 8 billion ($761 million) by March 31. He warned that Embracer still has “a few larger structured divestment processes ongoing that could strengthen our balance sheet.
- 2/15/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
The Rings of Power season 1 was the most expensive season of television ever made at the time of its debut in September 2022. Unsurprisingly, the premiere pulled in huge numbers for Amazon Prime Video, although reports suggest the series saw a steep drop in viewership in later weeks.
Despite winning a few awards and being nominated for many others, online fan discussion about the show has tended to be a bit on the negative side, particularly when compared with HBO’s House of the Dragon, which aired around the same time in 2022. Both were prequels to earlier hits, based on major fantasy franchises, spinning out fairly brief source material into something much longer and more detailed. But where House of the Dragon pulled fans back into George R.R. Martin’s Westeros after the last few seasons of Game of Thrones put many off, The Rings of Power was perceived as a...
Despite winning a few awards and being nominated for many others, online fan discussion about the show has tended to be a bit on the negative side, particularly when compared with HBO’s House of the Dragon, which aired around the same time in 2022. Both were prequels to earlier hits, based on major fantasy franchises, spinning out fairly brief source material into something much longer and more detailed. But where House of the Dragon pulled fans back into George R.R. Martin’s Westeros after the last few seasons of Game of Thrones put many off, The Rings of Power was perceived as a...
- 2/13/2024
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Media and entertainment investment bank Acf is to sell a majority stake in its business to Los Angeles-based merchant bank The Forest Road Company.
The two companies have signed definitive agreements on the deal, which is subject to regulatory approval.
UK and US-based Acf has been behind key deals in the media sector, including the sale of The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit intellectual property to Embracer Group, the sale of Pilgrim Studios to Lionsgate, Leftfield Entertainment’s acquisition by ITV, and the sale of Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones company Broke & Bones to Netflix.
Forest Road...
The two companies have signed definitive agreements on the deal, which is subject to regulatory approval.
UK and US-based Acf has been behind key deals in the media sector, including the sale of The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit intellectual property to Embracer Group, the sale of Pilgrim Studios to Lionsgate, Leftfield Entertainment’s acquisition by ITV, and the sale of Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones company Broke & Bones to Netflix.
Forest Road...
- 1/17/2024
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
The animated adaptations of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings from the 1970s and 1980s have a bit of a bad reputation these days, but these are not entirely deserved. In particular, Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass’ 1977 TV movie of The Hobbit, with a screenplay by Romeo Miller, gets a lot of things right that Peter Jackson’s three-part live-action film adaptation did not.
The most obvious advantage that the animated version has over the live-action films is its length. The fact that the live-action movies are too long is pretty well-established, but by way of a reminder, the book of The Hobbit is about 300 pages long, with slight variations in each edition. Other books of similar length that have been adapted into films include Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Emma Donoghue’s Room, John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
The most obvious advantage that the animated version has over the live-action films is its length. The fact that the live-action movies are too long is pretty well-established, but by way of a reminder, the book of The Hobbit is about 300 pages long, with slight variations in each edition. Other books of similar length that have been adapted into films include Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Emma Donoghue’s Room, John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
- 12/1/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
“Lord of the Rings” owner Embracer Group has reported a 13% increase in net sales year-on-year in Q2, in part thanks to its intensive restructuring program.
Sales were also up slightly (by approximately $36 million) from Q1 to Q2, the latter of which covers July to September 2023.
“In Q2, we delivered a stable quarter, with adjusted Ebit of Sek 1.8 billion [U.S. $170 million] and we expect to reach the forecasted range for this year,” said CEO Lars Wingefors. “The free cash flow of Sek 0.4 billion [U.S. $38 million] shows a clear improvement compared to Q1. Our restructuring program is making good progress, with opex savings ahead of plan and capex savings expected to contribute notably in the second half of the year. We continue to take important steps for the future and I am confident that we will emerge as a stronger company.”
The most profitable sector of the Swedish company in Q2 was the Entertainment & Services division,...
Sales were also up slightly (by approximately $36 million) from Q1 to Q2, the latter of which covers July to September 2023.
“In Q2, we delivered a stable quarter, with adjusted Ebit of Sek 1.8 billion [U.S. $170 million] and we expect to reach the forecasted range for this year,” said CEO Lars Wingefors. “The free cash flow of Sek 0.4 billion [U.S. $38 million] shows a clear improvement compared to Q1. Our restructuring program is making good progress, with opex savings ahead of plan and capex savings expected to contribute notably in the second half of the year. We continue to take important steps for the future and I am confident that we will emerge as a stronger company.”
The most profitable sector of the Swedish company in Q2 was the Entertainment & Services division,...
- 11/16/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
At last count, there have been nine studio-sanctioned feature films to have been adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy novels.
"The Hobbit," the first book in the series, was published in 1937, while a follow-up trilogy called "Lord of the Rings" was published in 1954 and 1955. Tolkien was both a linguist and a pacifist, so the books tended to lean toward elaborately constructed fantasy languages as well as antiwar themes. The mythology of Middle-earth was so vast and complex, Tolkien also wrote a book called "The Silmarillion" in which deep-cut details from within the "Rings" universe were laid out in excruciating, mythological detail.
For many years, multiple filmmakers and producers attempted to adapt the first book, "The Hobbit" to film. According to Brian J. Robb's and Paul Simpson's 2013 book "Middle-earth Envisioned: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: On Screen, On Stage, and Beyond," Walt Disney had considered...
"The Hobbit," the first book in the series, was published in 1937, while a follow-up trilogy called "Lord of the Rings" was published in 1954 and 1955. Tolkien was both a linguist and a pacifist, so the books tended to lean toward elaborately constructed fantasy languages as well as antiwar themes. The mythology of Middle-earth was so vast and complex, Tolkien also wrote a book called "The Silmarillion" in which deep-cut details from within the "Rings" universe were laid out in excruciating, mythological detail.
For many years, multiple filmmakers and producers attempted to adapt the first book, "The Hobbit" to film. According to Brian J. Robb's and Paul Simpson's 2013 book "Middle-earth Envisioned: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: On Screen, On Stage, and Beyond," Walt Disney had considered...
- 9/23/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Just over three months before its Dec. 20 theatrical release, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” has its first trailer.
The underwater actioner features Jason Momoa’s Aquaman reluctantly teaming with his previously deposed brother (Patrick Wilson) to deal with the return of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Black Manta. Contrary to what the internet has been spouting for three years, Amber Heard is indeed back as Mera.
As with the previous CinemaCon sizzle reel, we see at least one shot of Mera in action. The trailer promises a jaw-droppingly gorgeous fantasy spectacle, with crisp, clear and colorful underwater photography. At a glance, James Wan isn’t handing over the underwater franchise crown to James Cameron without a fight.
Five years is a long time between installments. However, it’s only a year later than initially planned prior to Covid-related production delays. The plan, way back when, was to have ‘Aquaman 2’ open...
The underwater actioner features Jason Momoa’s Aquaman reluctantly teaming with his previously deposed brother (Patrick Wilson) to deal with the return of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Black Manta. Contrary to what the internet has been spouting for three years, Amber Heard is indeed back as Mera.
As with the previous CinemaCon sizzle reel, we see at least one shot of Mera in action. The trailer promises a jaw-droppingly gorgeous fantasy spectacle, with crisp, clear and colorful underwater photography. At a glance, James Wan isn’t handing over the underwater franchise crown to James Cameron without a fight.
Five years is a long time between installments. However, it’s only a year later than initially planned prior to Covid-related production delays. The plan, way back when, was to have ‘Aquaman 2’ open...
- 9/14/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Lee Pace is one of Hollywood’s most underrated and talented performers. His extensive career in television and film began in the early 2000s, by which point he had already made a name for himself in stage productions.
Over the past several decades, Pace has consistently earned acclaim for his versatility and willingness to immerse himself completely into the roles he chooses. Most recently, Pace has been making waves in the series Foundation. In a recent chat with Interview magazine, Pace discussed the iconic nude fighting scene from the very first episode of the season, revealing why he believes “everyone” should try it at some point.
What is Lee Pace best known for? Lee Pace | Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Pace attended the prestigious Juilliard School in the late ’90s, learning the skills of character development and dramatization. He transitioned into television and film roles not long after graduation, with...
Over the past several decades, Pace has consistently earned acclaim for his versatility and willingness to immerse himself completely into the roles he chooses. Most recently, Pace has been making waves in the series Foundation. In a recent chat with Interview magazine, Pace discussed the iconic nude fighting scene from the very first episode of the season, revealing why he believes “everyone” should try it at some point.
What is Lee Pace best known for? Lee Pace | Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Pace attended the prestigious Juilliard School in the late ’90s, learning the skills of character development and dramatization. He transitioned into television and film roles not long after graduation, with...
- 8/28/2023
- by Suse Forrest
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Sweden’s Embracer paid nearly $396M for the rights to the Lord of the Rings franchise.
The 4.25Bn Sek ($395.6M) paid for Middle-earth Enterprises was revealed today in Embracer’s annual report. At the time of the deal, no financial figure was placed on the agreement but was thought to be much higher than what has emerged.
The deal with Saul Zaentz Company gave Embracer motion picture, video game, board game, merchandising, theme parks and stage production rights relating to The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit franchises as well as matching rights in other Middle-earth-related literary works authorized by the Tolkien Estate and HarperCollins, which have yet to be explored.
The news comes just a few days after Embracer revealed it will be implementing a restructure that will lead to layoffs and closures of some divisions. The restructure will focus on “cost savings, capital allocation, efficiency and consolidation,” and...
The 4.25Bn Sek ($395.6M) paid for Middle-earth Enterprises was revealed today in Embracer’s annual report. At the time of the deal, no financial figure was placed on the agreement but was thought to be much higher than what has emerged.
The deal with Saul Zaentz Company gave Embracer motion picture, video game, board game, merchandising, theme parks and stage production rights relating to The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit franchises as well as matching rights in other Middle-earth-related literary works authorized by the Tolkien Estate and HarperCollins, which have yet to be explored.
The news comes just a few days after Embracer revealed it will be implementing a restructure that will lead to layoffs and closures of some divisions. The restructure will focus on “cost savings, capital allocation, efficiency and consolidation,” and...
- 6/21/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Calling all fans of spy films in London! This mission, if you choose to accept it, will see you experiencing one of the best collections of spy-cinema mementos the world has ever seen! Discover more:
The Action Exhibition Chapter 1: The Incredible World of Spy-Fi presented by Danny Biederman, Action Festival Holdings and Nomad Exhibitions: A UK first, Danny Biederman author, filmmaker, and internationally recoginzed expert on pop spy fiction – has amassed the ultimate collection of props, costumes, original gadgetry, production notes and memorabilia from some of the leading Action franchises of all time. Unique items from Mission Impossible and James Bond to Britain’s own hit Spy show The Avengers will be displayed and available to Festival Day Pass holders – the exhibit is only in the UK for 2 Days.
“For me, this is a big deal, as so many of the truly great motion picture and television spy thrillers originated in England,...
The Action Exhibition Chapter 1: The Incredible World of Spy-Fi presented by Danny Biederman, Action Festival Holdings and Nomad Exhibitions: A UK first, Danny Biederman author, filmmaker, and internationally recoginzed expert on pop spy fiction – has amassed the ultimate collection of props, costumes, original gadgetry, production notes and memorabilia from some of the leading Action franchises of all time. Unique items from Mission Impossible and James Bond to Britain’s own hit Spy show The Avengers will be displayed and available to Festival Day Pass holders – the exhibit is only in the UK for 2 Days.
“For me, this is a big deal, as so many of the truly great motion picture and television spy thrillers originated in England,...
- 5/25/2023
- by Lee Parham
- Den of Geek
HBO Max is dead. Long live Max.
The new combined streaming service launched on Tuesday, and in addition to housing all of HBO Max and Discovery+’s content in one place, Max also plays host to a robust library of movies and TV shows streaming in 4K Uhd. At launch, more than 1,000 hours of programming are available in 4K, and Max says more will be added in the coming months.
Right now, you can stream all the “Harry Potter” movies, the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” trilogies, the “Dark Knight” trilogy, the “Matrix” films, “Dune,” “Joker” and even “The Wizard of Oz” and “Goodfellas” in 4K. Additionally, acclaimed (and cinematic) HBO series like “House of the Dragon,” “Barry” and “Succession” are also streaming in 4K, with additional shows (and seasons) to come.
Plus, all Warner Bros. movies released this year and going forward will be streaming in 4K Uhd...
The new combined streaming service launched on Tuesday, and in addition to housing all of HBO Max and Discovery+’s content in one place, Max also plays host to a robust library of movies and TV shows streaming in 4K Uhd. At launch, more than 1,000 hours of programming are available in 4K, and Max says more will be added in the coming months.
Right now, you can stream all the “Harry Potter” movies, the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” trilogies, the “Dark Knight” trilogy, the “Matrix” films, “Dune,” “Joker” and even “The Wizard of Oz” and “Goodfellas” in 4K. Additionally, acclaimed (and cinematic) HBO series like “House of the Dragon,” “Barry” and “Succession” are also streaming in 4K, with additional shows (and seasons) to come.
Plus, all Warner Bros. movies released this year and going forward will be streaming in 4K Uhd...
- 5/23/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Abundantia Entertainment and Prime Video’s most anticipated murder mystery, ‘Neeyat’ is all set for its worldwide theatrical premiere on July 7th, 2023. The intriguing thriller, featuring Vidya Balan as the leading protagonist, is making its grand entrance in the crown jewel of recording studios, the iconic Abbey Road Studios.
Having earned a name for itself for being the epicenter of work for many legendary musicians and artists, Abbey Road Studios has been a musical pillar to the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Amy Winehouse and more recently Ed Sheeran, Adele, and Lady Gaga. It also one of the world’s premier destinations for film scoring with illustrious movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, movies from the Harry Potter series, Black Panther, 1917, Avengers: Endgame including the Oscar winning scores of Gravity and The Shape of Water being composed here. Neeyat joins the distinguished...
Having earned a name for itself for being the epicenter of work for many legendary musicians and artists, Abbey Road Studios has been a musical pillar to the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Amy Winehouse and more recently Ed Sheeran, Adele, and Lady Gaga. It also one of the world’s premier destinations for film scoring with illustrious movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, movies from the Harry Potter series, Black Panther, 1917, Avengers: Endgame including the Oscar winning scores of Gravity and The Shape of Water being composed here. Neeyat joins the distinguished...
- 5/23/2023
- by Editorial Desk
- GlamSham
In a move that is perhaps as surprising as the continued box office success of the franchise itself, it was announced today that James Cameron’s blockbuster sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water” will make its subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming premiere on June 7 on Max and Disney+. On May 23, Warner Bros. Discovery’s new streaming service Max will officially launch, combining all of HBO Max’s library of content with the vast majority of titles from discovery+.
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The fact that “The Way of Water” is streaming on any service other than Disney+ is a fairly major surprise. 2009’s original “Avatar” film streams exclusively on Disney’s flagship streamer, but it appears that a contract between 20th Century Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery that predates Disney’s acquisition of the Fox assets...
7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month HBO Max via amazon.com
Get 20% Off Your Next Year of HBO Max When Pre-Paid Annually
The fact that “The Way of Water” is streaming on any service other than Disney+ is a fairly major surprise. 2009’s original “Avatar” film streams exclusively on Disney’s flagship streamer, but it appears that a contract between 20th Century Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery that predates Disney’s acquisition of the Fox assets...
- 5/15/2023
- by Matt Tamanini
- The Streamable
Based on the novel by Alice Sebold, Peter Jackson's 2009 film "The Lovely Bones" is the least-acclaimed film in his career. In "The Lovely Bones," Saoirse Ronan plays a 14-year-old girl named Susie Salmon who is targeted by a creepy serial killer, George, played by Stanley Tucci. In a shocking turn of events, George kills Susie early in the film. The character remains a part of the action, however, as her ghost is able to look down from Heaven to check in on her family. In the aftermath of her death, Susie's family mourns her loss but then takes to investigating Susie's murder, finding that George likely did it. Occasionally, Susie can reach down and influence things. Late in the film, she even possesses another person.
"The Lovely Bones" was ill-advised from the start. Roger Ebert gave the film one-and-a-half stars, objecting to Jackson's irresponsible handling of its messages; it...
"The Lovely Bones" was ill-advised from the start. Roger Ebert gave the film one-and-a-half stars, objecting to Jackson's irresponsible handling of its messages; it...
- 4/24/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Elijah Wood has expressed his ‘surprise’ over plans for new movies of Tolkien’s fantasy classic – but they couldn’t be any worse than the book-butchering Hobbit trilogy
Far be it for me to put words in Elijah Wood’s mouth – somebody tried that once, and it didn’t work out well. But according to a new interview with GQ, he’s not exactly gobbling up Warner Bros’ much-discussed plans for a new run of Lord of the Rings movies like a Hobbity second breakfast.
“I’m fascinated and I’m excited,” Wood told the magazine. “I hope it’s good. I’m surprised – I don’t know why I’m surprised because, of course there would be more movies. Obviously at the core of that, is a desire to make a lot of money. It’s not that a bunch of executives are like, ‘Let’s make really awesome art.
Far be it for me to put words in Elijah Wood’s mouth – somebody tried that once, and it didn’t work out well. But according to a new interview with GQ, he’s not exactly gobbling up Warner Bros’ much-discussed plans for a new run of Lord of the Rings movies like a Hobbity second breakfast.
“I’m fascinated and I’m excited,” Wood told the magazine. “I hope it’s good. I’m surprised – I don’t know why I’m surprised because, of course there would be more movies. Obviously at the core of that, is a desire to make a lot of money. It’s not that a bunch of executives are like, ‘Let’s make really awesome art.
- 4/21/2023
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
A man who went out on a birthday bar crawl dressed as Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings was stunned when he ran into none other than Sir Ian McKellen.
The 83-year-old thespian famously portrayed the sage wizard in Peter Jackson’s hit trilogy of film adaptations, later reprising the role for the director’s Hobbit trilogy.
The serendipitious meeting occurred on 13 April when Ben Coyles, a 22-year-old music student, was out celebrating his birthday on the streets of Bristol.
McKellen was in the city as part of the touring production of the pantomime Mother Goose. The show, which also starred comedian John Bishop, has just concluded a 145-date nationwide tour.
“So it was really bizarre, it was my 22nd birthday, and we were on a pub crawl,” the reveller recalled, per Bristol Post.
“Me and all my mates were walking down the street and I heard behind me...
The 83-year-old thespian famously portrayed the sage wizard in Peter Jackson’s hit trilogy of film adaptations, later reprising the role for the director’s Hobbit trilogy.
The serendipitious meeting occurred on 13 April when Ben Coyles, a 22-year-old music student, was out celebrating his birthday on the streets of Bristol.
McKellen was in the city as part of the touring production of the pantomime Mother Goose. The show, which also starred comedian John Bishop, has just concluded a 145-date nationwide tour.
“So it was really bizarre, it was my 22nd birthday, and we were on a pub crawl,” the reveller recalled, per Bristol Post.
“Me and all my mates were walking down the street and I heard behind me...
- 4/18/2023
- by Louis Chilton
- The Independent - Film
Animals rights activists have condemned the death of a horse on the set of Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”
On March 21, a horse suffered cardiac arrest ahead of rehearsals on the production of the fantasy streaming series. Amazon Studios released a statement confirming the situation on Sunday morning.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that a production horse died on 21st March,” an Amazon spokesperson said. “The incident took place in the morning whilst the horse was being exercised prior to rehearsals. The trainer was not in costume and filming had yet to commence. Both a veterinarian and a representative of the American Humane Association were present at the time. The independent necropsy has confirmed that the horse died of cardiac failure.”
Sources near the “Rings of Power” production share that more than 30 horses were being employed on the day the incident occurred.
On March 21, a horse suffered cardiac arrest ahead of rehearsals on the production of the fantasy streaming series. Amazon Studios released a statement confirming the situation on Sunday morning.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that a production horse died on 21st March,” an Amazon spokesperson said. “The incident took place in the morning whilst the horse was being exercised prior to rehearsals. The trainer was not in costume and filming had yet to commence. Both a veterinarian and a representative of the American Humane Association were present at the time. The independent necropsy has confirmed that the horse died of cardiac failure.”
Sources near the “Rings of Power” production share that more than 30 horses were being employed on the day the incident occurred.
- 3/26/2023
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy divides fans. While many were thrilled that Jackson and collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens returned to Middle Earth to film this adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien’s book, more than a few fans felt the movies didn’t live up to what had come before. Indeed, following up the Lord of the Rings trilogy would never be easy. Those films are regarded as modern classics, with the third movie, The Return of the King, even winning Best Picture and Director Academy Awards. How do you follow up a classic?
Indeed, there was never really supposed to be a Hobbit trilogy, with Guillermo del Toro initially attached to turn Tolkien’s tome into a 2-movie tale. Eventually, del Toro had to depart the project due to ongoing delays and Jackson, to the delight of fans, stepped in as a director, expanding the project’s scope to three films.
Indeed, there was never really supposed to be a Hobbit trilogy, with Guillermo del Toro initially attached to turn Tolkien’s tome into a 2-movie tale. Eventually, del Toro had to depart the project due to ongoing delays and Jackson, to the delight of fans, stepped in as a director, expanding the project’s scope to three films.
- 3/20/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: A musical stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, originally co-created in 2006 by Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical director Matthew Warchus, is headed to the English countryside.
The Shire of Middle-earth, the inland area inhabited by the hobbits and Bilbo Baggins, will be re-created at the Watermill Theatre to allow a cast of 20 actor-musicians to perform the musical in the open air.
The Watermill Theatre is located in Berkshire, a county adjacent to Oxfordshire, where Tolkien wrote his chronicle of the Hobbit universe’s Great War of the Ring. It will present a semi-immersive production of The Lord of the Rings that takes advantage of the venue’s picturesque setting on the banks of the River Lambourn.
Expect the village of Bagnor close to the town of Newbury, where the Watermill is based, to be overrun by Ringers and Tolkienites eager to see the show,...
The Shire of Middle-earth, the inland area inhabited by the hobbits and Bilbo Baggins, will be re-created at the Watermill Theatre to allow a cast of 20 actor-musicians to perform the musical in the open air.
The Watermill Theatre is located in Berkshire, a county adjacent to Oxfordshire, where Tolkien wrote his chronicle of the Hobbit universe’s Great War of the Ring. It will present a semi-immersive production of The Lord of the Rings that takes advantage of the venue’s picturesque setting on the banks of the River Lambourn.
Expect the village of Bagnor close to the town of Newbury, where the Watermill is based, to be overrun by Ringers and Tolkienites eager to see the show,...
- 3/2/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
When Amazon debuted its highly anticipated Most Expensive TV Series Ever Made — The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power last fall — the company had to contend with a bothersome rival from Warner Bros. Discovery: the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon. Warners picked a debut date for its prestige TV drama 12 days before Amazon’s $1 billion gamble launched, ensuring nonstop media and fandom comparisons, many of which were less favorable to the family-friendly Rings. For Amazon, the head-to-head rivalry was all the more galling because Warners is a minority licensee stakeholder in Rings, so they’re ostensibly supposed to be on the same side. Team Rings’ public spin concerning the matchup went like this: None of this matters because these shows are totally different.
All of which made the Feb. 23 announcement by Warners almost Westeros-level brutal: Now the studio is going to make The Lord of the Rings content,...
All of which made the Feb. 23 announcement by Warners almost Westeros-level brutal: Now the studio is going to make The Lord of the Rings content,...
- 2/28/2023
- by James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It was an interesting turn of events when Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema, the studio that initially brought forth the live-adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series, directed by Peter Jackson, had announced plans to release new movies in the franchise after signing a deal with Embracer Group Ab’s Middle-earth Enterprises. The clincher was that Peter Jackson would, once again, be involved with these projects in some capacity.
Variety is now reporting the boss of Amazon Studios, Jennifer Salke, who is releasing the Lord of the Rings show, The Rings of Power, does not feel threatened by this announcement as they were shortly the sole source for new Lord of the Rings material. Salke recently spoke on the red carpet of the Creed III premiere about the newly announced projects. When Variety asked her if all these new Tolkien works would be too much for the market,...
Variety is now reporting the boss of Amazon Studios, Jennifer Salke, who is releasing the Lord of the Rings show, The Rings of Power, does not feel threatened by this announcement as they were shortly the sole source for new Lord of the Rings material. Salke recently spoke on the red carpet of the Creed III premiere about the newly announced projects. When Variety asked her if all these new Tolkien works would be too much for the market,...
- 2/28/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
If the past five years were about chasing Netflix’s up-and-to-the-right trajectory for streaming subscribers, this year begins a pivot in that approach for its rivals. While adding subscribers is still important, now the likes of Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount and NBCUniversal find themselves envious of something else Netflix has in spades: Streaming profits.
Like Gollum and The One Ring to Rule Them All, or Thanos and the Infinity Stones, streaming profits have become the entertainment industry’s ultimate MacGuffin, always seemingly out of reach. Netflix now finds itself atop the subscription streaming heap, ending 2022 with 231 million paid subscribers and $5.6 billion in profits. Next quarter the company projects $1.6 billion in profit, and for 2023, it expects to have operating margins of 21 to 22 percent, up from 18 to 20 percent in 2022.
The rest of the business, meanwhile, is looking at 2024. That’s when Disney, NBCU, Paramount and Wbd all say they expect — or...
Like Gollum and The One Ring to Rule Them All, or Thanos and the Infinity Stones, streaming profits have become the entertainment industry’s ultimate MacGuffin, always seemingly out of reach. Netflix now finds itself atop the subscription streaming heap, ending 2022 with 231 million paid subscribers and $5.6 billion in profits. Next quarter the company projects $1.6 billion in profit, and for 2023, it expects to have operating margins of 21 to 22 percent, up from 18 to 20 percent in 2022.
The rest of the business, meanwhile, is looking at 2024. That’s when Disney, NBCU, Paramount and Wbd all say they expect — or...
- 2/28/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A bear on cocaine? Terrifying. Only slightly less so? A buff New Zealander covered head-to-toe in black lycra, running around on all fours thanks to custom-made, meter-long aluminum limb extensions to portray a bear on cocaine. But that’s what actor Allan Henry had to do in “Cocaine Bear” to give his fellow performers — playing the humans caught in the crossfire when a bear snorts a bunch of abandoned cocaine — something tangible to react to.
Henry has augmented his work as a stunt performer and actor by embodying creature roles for a decade. “I started working with the movement coach for [the ‘Hobbit’ films] Terry Notary, who’s incredible, and the second unit for ‘The Hobbit’ was also being directed by Andy Serkis. So at the same time when we were doing orcs and goblins and things [that moved as] quadrupeds for ‘The Hobbit,’ Terry and Andy and a group of us would then...
Henry has augmented his work as a stunt performer and actor by embodying creature roles for a decade. “I started working with the movement coach for [the ‘Hobbit’ films] Terry Notary, who’s incredible, and the second unit for ‘The Hobbit’ was also being directed by Andy Serkis. So at the same time when we were doing orcs and goblins and things [that moved as] quadrupeds for ‘The Hobbit,’ Terry and Andy and a group of us would then...
- 2/24/2023
- by Sarah Shachat
- Indiewire
Things have been more than a little tumultuous at Warner Bros. Discovery (Wbd) following Discovery's acquisition of WarnerMedia last year. The combined company carries with it $49.5 billion in debt (down from $57 billion a year ago) and, as a result, has a challenging road ahead, particularly with the streaming landscape changing dramatically. That being the case, all eyes were on CEO David Zaslav as the company reported its fourth quarter and full year 2022 financial results recently. In short, Wbd is still losing billions of dollars, but Zaslav seems confident the worst is behind them.
Warner Bros. Discovery recorded a $2.1 billion loss in the most recent quarter, and that was heavily bolstered by a $1.85 billion write down related to the WarnerMedia acquisition, as well as $1.2 billion in restructuring expenses. Plus, the company reported $11 billion in revenue for the quarter, representing a 9% decline compared to the same quarter last year. But they...
Warner Bros. Discovery recorded a $2.1 billion loss in the most recent quarter, and that was heavily bolstered by a $1.85 billion write down related to the WarnerMedia acquisition, as well as $1.2 billion in restructuring expenses. Plus, the company reported $11 billion in revenue for the quarter, representing a 9% decline compared to the same quarter last year. But they...
- 2/24/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Warner Bros. Discovery’s latest business plan? New Lord of the Rings films.
According to Variety, the curiously managed media conglomerate has ordered “multiple” new movies based on the J.R.R. Tolkien books, which originally spawned three pictures and three Hobbit spinoffs. Casting and storylines have yet to be revealed, but new Warner Bros. Discovery leaders Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy said in a statement that the move will allow the production company to explore new aspects of the Tolkienverse.
“For all the scope and detail lovingly packed into the two [Lord of the Rings and Hobbit] trilogies, the vast, complex, and dazzling universe dreamed up by J.R.R. Tolkien remains largely unexplored,” the two said. The films will be distributed under Warner Bros. banner New Line Cinema.
The latest Lord of the Rings spinoff is The Rings of Power, the Prime Video series set thousands of years before...
According to Variety, the curiously managed media conglomerate has ordered “multiple” new movies based on the J.R.R. Tolkien books, which originally spawned three pictures and three Hobbit spinoffs. Casting and storylines have yet to be revealed, but new Warner Bros. Discovery leaders Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy said in a statement that the move will allow the production company to explore new aspects of the Tolkienverse.
“For all the scope and detail lovingly packed into the two [Lord of the Rings and Hobbit] trilogies, the vast, complex, and dazzling universe dreamed up by J.R.R. Tolkien remains largely unexplored,” the two said. The films will be distributed under Warner Bros. banner New Line Cinema.
The latest Lord of the Rings spinoff is The Rings of Power, the Prime Video series set thousands of years before...
- 2/23/2023
- by Carys Anderson
- Consequence - Film News
One Ring to rule them all and one batch of "The Lord of the Rings" news to promptly break the internet. That's right, folks, Warner Bros. Discovery just announced on an investors earnings call that the company is back in the Middle-earth business. And get this: CEO David Zaslav revealed that the current plan is for "multiple 'The Lord of the Rings' movies."
The Hollywood Reporter has even more details, explaining that Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema, the subsidiary behind Peter Jackson's acclaimed trilogy of movies, are developing more movies set in original author J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world. Importantly, this is being described as the furthest thing from a "retread" of Jackson's movies. Warner Bros Film Group Co-Chairpersons and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy themselves weighed in on the news, saying the following in a statement:
"Twenty years ago, New Line took an unprecedented leap...
The Hollywood Reporter has even more details, explaining that Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema, the subsidiary behind Peter Jackson's acclaimed trilogy of movies, are developing more movies set in original author J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world. Importantly, this is being described as the furthest thing from a "retread" of Jackson's movies. Warner Bros Film Group Co-Chairpersons and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy themselves weighed in on the news, saying the following in a statement:
"Twenty years ago, New Line took an unprecedented leap...
- 2/23/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Ang Lee has been making movies for over three decades. That is an impressive career. That the majority of those films are good (and some are amazing) puts him on a whole other level. Born in Taiwan, the Republic of China, and educated in the United States, Lee has made extremely Chinese films and extremely American films, as well as some that mix the two cultures — plus the occasional excursion to the United Kingdom or India for a literary adaptation. But wherever his films take place, and no matter who stars in them, Ang Lee is always interested in what's under the surface of his characters — in people's emotional lives, their feelings for others, and what they keep hidden from the world.
Family has been an omnipresent theme in Lee's work since he kicked off his career with three movies in a row about dads. Sexuality also comes up a...
Family has been an omnipresent theme in Lee's work since he kicked off his career with three movies in a row about dads. Sexuality also comes up a...
- 2/18/2023
- by Elle Collins
- Slash Film
As a prequel to “Game of Thrones,” “House of the Dragon” could be an awards magnet (and has already won Best Drama Series at the Golden Globes). But despite “Thrones” winning more than two dozen Visual Effects Society Awards over the course of its run, “Dragon” was upset by “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” for Best Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode. Next, the two fantasy epics will face off at the February 18 Art Directors Guild Awards. Can “Lotr” keep “Hotd” at bay again?
As of this writing “Dragon” leads with 82/25 odds based on the combined predictions of Gold Derby users. Jim Clay is the nominated production designer for the premiere episode “The Heirs of the Dragon” in the category for one-hour single-camera fantasy series. This would be Clay’s first Adg victory, but “Game of Thrones” previously won five Adg Awards during its run, so...
As of this writing “Dragon” leads with 82/25 odds based on the combined predictions of Gold Derby users. Jim Clay is the nominated production designer for the premiere episode “The Heirs of the Dragon” in the category for one-hour single-camera fantasy series. This would be Clay’s first Adg victory, but “Game of Thrones” previously won five Adg Awards during its run, so...
- 2/18/2023
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Brace yourselves, Middle-earth hive: Lego has just unveiled one set to rule them all. After years of not doing much with the Lord Of The Rings license, 2023 is seeing a fresh deluge of building-brick sets based on Peter Jackson_ – to life.
The (potentially) bad news is, it costs over £400. The good news is, if you have that kind of money to spend on a giant toy set, it comes with over 6000 bricks, 15 minifigures, and all kinds of incredible details from one of the trilogy’s most spellbinding settings. In the set, you can build Elrond’s council, Frodo’s bedroom (should you also want to recreate the slow-mo Hobbit reunion from the end of Return Of The King), the elven tower, and the lush leafy exteriors of the elvish stronghold. It is a pretty astonishing construction, and by far the biggest Lego take on Lotr yet.
“We know many of...
The (potentially) bad news is, it costs over £400. The good news is, if you have that kind of money to spend on a giant toy set, it comes with over 6000 bricks, 15 minifigures, and all kinds of incredible details from one of the trilogy’s most spellbinding settings. In the set, you can build Elrond’s council, Frodo’s bedroom (should you also want to recreate the slow-mo Hobbit reunion from the end of Return Of The King), the elven tower, and the lush leafy exteriors of the elvish stronghold. It is a pretty astonishing construction, and by far the biggest Lego take on Lotr yet.
“We know many of...
- 2/7/2023
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
By the late 1970s, there were two major animated adaptations of The Lord of the Rings in development. Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, known for their holiday season specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, had directed an animated dramatization of The Hobbit for television, broadcast in 1977 and they were planning a sequel, also for television, based on The Lord of the Rings. But filmmaker and animator Ralph Bakshi beat them to it in 1978 when he directed an animated feature film, The Lord of the Rings, which he intended to be Part 1 of 2. The studio (United Artists) refused to put Part 1 on the title though, and never greenlit Part 2. Instead, Rankin and Bass released a made-for-television sequel to their Hobbit film under the title The Return of the King, which finished off J.R.R. Tolkien‘s epic story.
The Rankin/Bass Hobbit film is seriously underrated these days,...
The Rankin/Bass Hobbit film is seriously underrated these days,...
- 1/17/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
It’s been six years since Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman last graced our screens as Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson, but fans are still holding out hope for season 5. It turns out that series co-creator Steven Moffat is also anxious to bring the series back, he’s just waiting on the two stars to return.
While speaking on BBC Today, Steven Moffat said that he would “start writing [Sherlock season 5] tomorrow” if Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman would return. “They’re on to bigger and better things but, Martin and Benedict, please come back?,” Moffat said. Since the debut of Sherlock back in 2010, Cumberbatch and Freeman have indeed moved on to bigger projects. Both actors have joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Cumberbatch playing Doctor Strange and Freeman playing Everett K. Ross. The pair also appeared in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, with Freeman playing Bilbo Baggins and Cumberbatch playing Smaug and Sauron.
While speaking on BBC Today, Steven Moffat said that he would “start writing [Sherlock season 5] tomorrow” if Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman would return. “They’re on to bigger and better things but, Martin and Benedict, please come back?,” Moffat said. Since the debut of Sherlock back in 2010, Cumberbatch and Freeman have indeed moved on to bigger projects. Both actors have joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Cumberbatch playing Doctor Strange and Freeman playing Everett K. Ross. The pair also appeared in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, with Freeman playing Bilbo Baggins and Cumberbatch playing Smaug and Sauron.
- 1/4/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Director James Cameron and Wētā FX’s senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri didn’t waste any time laying the groundwork for “The Way of Water.” After the game-changing “Avatar” revolutionized virtual production and performance capture in 2010, Cameron and Letteri got together at a retreat to assess what they could do better. Fortunately, Wētā was well underway in refining its performance capture and facial animation capabilities, along with writing the software for its physically based rendering engine, Manuka, and real-time pre-lighting tool, Gazebo, innovations that greatly benefited the “Planet of the Apes” and “Hobbit” franchises, as well as “Alita: Battle Angel” and “Gemini Man.”
What Cameron had in mind for “The Way of Water” required even greater innovative tech from Wētā and his own Lightstorm studio. The director wanted the look of a NatGeo doc for his sci-fi sequel, which would expand the world of Pandora to include the Metkayina...
What Cameron had in mind for “The Way of Water” required even greater innovative tech from Wētā and his own Lightstorm studio. The director wanted the look of a NatGeo doc for his sci-fi sequel, which would expand the world of Pandora to include the Metkayina...
- 12/22/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
13 years in the making, James Cameron's new film "Avatar: The Way of Water" is, true to the filmmaker's ethos, a technical marvel of the highest order. Set on a distant alien moon, the film is about a war between the honorable, nature-loving Na'vi and a cadre of vengeful human super-Marines who team up with evil whalers to hunt down the film's protagonists. The Na'vi are nine-foot tall, blue-skinned, large-eyed creatures, and are visually realized with advanced motion-capture technology. Actors like Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Cliff Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, and others have all been digitally interpolated to look like enormous aliens, and the effect is uncanny. Cameron also famously filmed many of his actors underwater to give them the proper movements and to experiment with how far he could push effects.
Most notoriously, however, Cameron also shot several "The Way of Water" sequences in 48 frames per second, a format that...
Most notoriously, however, Cameron also shot several "The Way of Water" sequences in 48 frames per second, a format that...
- 12/19/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Epic fantasy has been a popular genre in the movies for nearly a century. Classics like "The Wizard of Oz," "Jason and the Argonauts," and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" attracted hordes of moviegoers; they also won awards and drew rave reviews from critics. But not every fantasy film gets two thumbs up. For every "The Lord of the Rings," there's a "Hobbit"; for every "Labyrinth," an "Eragon."
And yet, some of these films might make you sit up and cheer anyway. It's not just the swords and sorcery that make them fun; it's the diverse and complex characters, the bizarre and creative creatures, and the wild and innovative settings. Many fantasy films were lambasted by reviewers when they were released, but if you sit down to watch them today, you'll have a fantastic time.
Don't believe me? These 14 epic fantasy movies were panned by professional commentators, but they're still a blast to watch.
And yet, some of these films might make you sit up and cheer anyway. It's not just the swords and sorcery that make them fun; it's the diverse and complex characters, the bizarre and creative creatures, and the wild and innovative settings. Many fantasy films were lambasted by reviewers when they were released, but if you sit down to watch them today, you'll have a fantastic time.
Don't believe me? These 14 epic fantasy movies were panned by professional commentators, but they're still a blast to watch.
- 12/14/2022
- by Brendan Knapp
- Slash Film
When the 2003 Christmas classic Love Actually entered the world, it was like a stuffed stocking, filled to the brim with some of Britain’s greatest actors.
From Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson to Alan Rickman, it attracted some of the best performers of the era.
The film also launched the careers of Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Olivia Olson, who were children when they starred in the romcom.
It’s been almost 20 years since Richard Curtis’s film was released, and they’ve all been very busy since then.
Some of the stars of the movie have gone on to work with Curtis again, while others have had huge franchise roles or become synonymous with certain characters, like Martin Freeman’s Dr John Watson in Sherlock.
Here’s a rundown on the Love Actually cast’s varied careers, from 2003 to now…
Bill Nighy
After playing rock and roll legend Billy Mack in Love Actually,...
From Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson to Alan Rickman, it attracted some of the best performers of the era.
The film also launched the careers of Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Olivia Olson, who were children when they starred in the romcom.
It’s been almost 20 years since Richard Curtis’s film was released, and they’ve all been very busy since then.
Some of the stars of the movie have gone on to work with Curtis again, while others have had huge franchise roles or become synonymous with certain characters, like Martin Freeman’s Dr John Watson in Sherlock.
Here’s a rundown on the Love Actually cast’s varied careers, from 2003 to now…
Bill Nighy
After playing rock and roll legend Billy Mack in Love Actually,...
- 12/14/2022
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - Film
There are many words one could use to describe the heightened visual quality of James Cameron’s original “Avatar” — words like incandescent, immersive, bedazzling. But in the 13 years since that movie came out, the word I tend to remember it best by is glowing. The primeval forest and floating-mountain landscapes of Pandora had an intoxicating fairy-tale shimmer. You wanted to live inside them, even as the story that unfolded inside them was merely okay.
In “Avatar: The Way of Water,” Cameron’s bigger, longer and even more dizzyingly spectacular sequel (spoiler alert: the story is still just okay), the technology that Cameron uses to take us back to Pandora has been sharpened — in every way. The 3D images have an uncanny tactility; if you had to describe them in just one word, it might be hyperclear. The film also has the eerie present-tense quality peculiar to high-frame-rate shooting. It’s a rather soulless feel,...
In “Avatar: The Way of Water,” Cameron’s bigger, longer and even more dizzyingly spectacular sequel (spoiler alert: the story is still just okay), the technology that Cameron uses to take us back to Pandora has been sharpened — in every way. The 3D images have an uncanny tactility; if you had to describe them in just one word, it might be hyperclear. The film also has the eerie present-tense quality peculiar to high-frame-rate shooting. It’s a rather soulless feel,...
- 12/13/2022
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Oh, Bernard Hill, Benny, mate. He might have been great in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, he might have given one of the greatest movie speeches of all time, and Théoden King may be one of the best characters in a trilogy filled with incredible characters -- but why, oh why does he have to publicly share his terrible takes? I know it is very tempting to ask every single person involved with a beloved big movie about the sequel/prequel/reboot they are not involved with, but do you have to? It'd be one thing to ask, say, Hugo Weaving or Cate Blanchett about the new takes on their characters, but Bernard Hill? Rohan isn't even around in the new show! What does it matter what he thinks?
And yet, that didn't stop Metro from asking Hill whether he'd be watching "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
And yet, that didn't stop Metro from asking Hill whether he'd be watching "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
- 12/1/2022
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
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