Ringer Mattforce writes: Just two days after the last update, Decipher has apparently dropped a couple of new cards - Banks of the Anduin and Úlairë Nertëa, Black-Mantled Wraith - out for everyone to look at. Scroll through the full (and spoilerish) list for the ones marked "new". [More] Spoilers!!

From Irish-Man: Hello everyone. I was talking to Calisuri at the Baggins' picnic in LA last month and we discussed the Lord of the Rings game. I said I had played it frequently with some friends and offered to review it, and he thought that was a good idea. Now, I'm not sure what should go into a game review, so I'm just going to discuss it as if nobody had ever heard of it before, including the basic rules and my thoughts on it. [More]

Remember those people who were telling the whole story of LOTR using Toybiz action figures? Well, they're BACK!!! Their preview for "Return of the King" features more figures, more backgrounds, better lighting....it's all coming together! [More]

Each week I scour Ebay looking for the hot Tolkien items up for sale. I post the most interesting here for you to bid on! [More] [SHOP]

Another chance to see your favorite LOTR star on the small screen this week! Take a look! [More]

WETA's Greg Butler will be making a presentation at 'The Pipeline 2003', a special effects confrence also featuring some of our friends at Digital Domain, who also worked on SFX for LOTR. 'The Pipeline 2003' takes place on November 20th at the ICA in London. [More]

Ringer Spy TheImagineTree sends along these scans from the latest issue of Jane Magazine, they feature an interview with Cate BLanchett (Galadriel). [More]

Phones are running hot at Ticketek with people wanting to book for Howard Shore's concert in Wellington. However there's been a hold-up with finalising some details of the concert, and so the concert is not yet in Ticketek's computer system. Which is why the ticketing staff are going crazy wondering why they're getting hundreds of calls for something they've never heard of. It's a long holiday weekend in NZ so none of the senior staff are around to enlighten them.

I've called the people organising the concert and they assure us that they are organising the final details concerning the concert this week. Stay tuned: They'll let me know when Ticket's able to take bookings. Probably later this week.

Ms Proudfoot writes: This weekend (October 24th-26th), a Sci-fi and toy convention was held in Stockholm, and naturally, as the devoted Ringer I am, I was planning to attend, even though it meant travelling across the country. The convention itself was held at the fair and congress hall in Sollentuna, Stockholm, but later that evening a special showing of TTT, with Andy Serkis holding a Q&A session before the film started, was going to be arranged at a smaller theater just outside the town. Andy Serkis was also going to be at the convention during the day, signing stuff. [More]

The October edition of the Sydney Sunday Times had this article on David Wenham. [More]

A nearly three-week wait for premiere tickets in unusually cold weather is about to end for Norway's most fanatic Lord of the Rings fans. On Monday their quest will be over, and the currently 144 strong crowd of hobbits, orcs, elves and other assorted creatures can return to warmer homes. [More]

Cheshire Cat was kind enough to send us another transcript from Collectormania 4 with Sean Astin and Elijah Wood. Take a look! [More]

The Gathering of the Fellowship in Toronto is holding a writing contest to add to the general fun. [More] There's lots of different categories and you can enter in your age group. Check it out!

Kristine writes: Here is some info on Ringcon taking place this weekend in Tacoma, WA. I went to the actor's dinner last night with Craig Parker (Haldir), Bruce Hopkins (Gamling), and Jorn Berzon. Fun evening, very personable gentlemen. [Images]

John Rhys-Davies at the Dallas ComicCon

Glenn sends along these images from this weekends Dallas ComicCon in Plano, TX. Sala Baker (Sauron), Brad Dourif (Wormtongue) and John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) are in attendance and were at this Q&A session, take a look! [More]

Eowynia writes: Viggo Mortensen was on C-SPAN talking to a group of peace protestors gathered in DC. It's a Rally Against US Iraq Policy. C-SPAN. He read Back To Babylon and dedicated it to the people of Afghanistan, Iraq and the US. After reading it, he turned and addressed the people behind him, ie Congress and the Pres, and said that "God is not angry, you are!". [cspan.org]

Susan Thea Posnock writes: As a writer, it has always been my dream to create a legacy that lives on through my work. When I was in college—studying classic scribes like Shakespeare, Byron and Keats—I would imagine future students would someday examine my brilliant literary works in the same way. They would pour over my prose, dissect my poetry and marvel at my private diaries...Alas, I have now discovered my lasting impact on humanity. And no, it is not the great novel that will be read and talked about for years to come. My legacy is this: To help Lord of the Rings geeks hook up. [More]

Christopher Lee will attend a Unicef Charity Reading Night in Zurich (ewz-Unterwerk), Switzerland this weekend.

Ringer Spy Shelerak writes: I have just seen the dates for the Extended Edition screenings to be held around Australia. Unfortunately they are only in limited release, but at least we get to see them on the big screen: FOTR released December 11th & TTT released December 18th. Apparently there will be a double feature screening around 23/24 Dec, but no details are available as yet.

Karin writes: I just returned home watching from Scary Movie 3. In the film, the main character watches a film with "scary images." After the film is over, the phone rings. When she picks it up, we hear a Gollum voice-clone say, "Hello, my precious!" Pretty humorous moment!

Nywoe writes: Over at CarvingPumpkins.com I learned how to make this Gollum Jack-O-Lantern! They have more LOTR patterns there, too. [Images] [carvingpumpkins.com]

As if this past week we haven't seen enough images from Return of the King, here is a new one featuring Arwen in a certain red dress...seen in trailers as far back as the first internet only trailer for FOTR all those years ago. Take a look! [More]

Mr. Mole, an insider in the production, sent along these images used in various ads and magazines over the years. Some of these are amazing! Take a look! [More]

Garfeimao writes: I was able to pick up both the new Lord of the Rings Trilogy edition of Monopoly, and the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy Trivial Pursuit today. I decided not to delve too deeply into the Trivial Pursuit game so as to remain a little less spoiled for ROTK. It appears to be both book and film trivia, so I'll just wait until December to get into it. [More]

Images from the LOTR Pringles ads seen in stores in North America. Thanks to Caranlinde for the images! [More]

Paul Comte writes: I have these two sculptures I'd like to sell and am looking for avenues to sell them. They were created for a youth camp in the Pacific Northwest called Island Lake Camp, located in Poulsbo, WA. Now that the summer camp season is over, they are up for sale. All copyrights have been approved by New Line Cinema and all proceeds will go to the camp. [More]

Rosamunde Brownlocks sends along another great batch of images from last weeks London Expo where Craig Parker (Haldir) and Billy Boyd (Pippin) attended. [More]

After just one week's worth of voting, The Lord of the Rings heads the shortlist of 21 nominees, preened down from an original list of 100, as the BBC looks to identify the UK's favourite book - a project known as 'The Big Read'. Tonight's show, the first in a series of seven which will examine three of the nominees in each, saw host Clive Anderson reveal that The Lord of the Rings is heading the pack, holding off Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, His Dark Materials and To Kill A Mockingbird respectively. It has yet to be announced when The Lord of the Rings will be examined.

Click here to vote for The Lord of the Rings in the BBC Big Read.

Already setting an incredibly high standard for himself after his critically acclaimed scores for The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, Howard Shore faces the problem of having to surpass, or in the very least equal, his aforementioned masterpieces - yet there are very few who doubt that Shore will come through with flying colours. With only a few weeks left until The Return of the King score is released worldwide, TheOneRing.net takes a closer look at the some of the artists who will be contributing to the soundtrack. [More]

Throughout its history, the One Ring comes to different people of many races. It tempts them all, preying on their individual and racial weaknesses and ambitions. Some fall to its lure, some fear even to touch it, but two small Hobbits carry the Ring all the way to the heart of Mordor. An interesting question arises; were Hobbits more resistant to the One Ring, and if so why? [More]

We have updated our scrapbook with some more amazing pictures from the Dutch version of the Return of the King Official Photoguide. First off there's some new additions from Ringer Spy Mibri in his batch we posted yesterday, we also added two great scans from Mischa and a whole gallery from Marike! SPOILERS AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN REACH!!

Images removed at the publishers request. Sorry!

Every year Forbes releases a list of the top-earning dead celebrities. J. R. R. Tolkien was ranked #8 in 2001 and #7 in 2002 but this year he has managed to find his way in the top three! Tolkien is listed third behind Elvis and Charles Schultz but still ahead of former Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison! Check out the the list here! Thanks to everyone who emailed this bit of info in!

No not like that, sorry guys. ComingSoon.net reports today that Liv Tyler will star next to Casey Affleck in the Steve Buscemi-directed "Lonesome Jim". [More]

Ringer Spy Sharon writes: Thought you might like to know the "unofficial date" for the Return of The King premiere in L A is December 3rd at 6:30pm at the Mann's Village &Bruin Theatres in Westwood.

Please keep in mind that this in unofficial and that we do not know how to get tickets to this or any other premiere for The Return of the King!

Brian Sibley and Jude Fisher, authors of official guides to the Lord of the Rings films, are to share their experiences of the blockbuster trilogy at the Science Museum in London. [More]

John Kurlander, who spent nearly 30 years at Abbey Road before moving to Hollywood to further his career as an independent film scoring mixer, has come home to the London studio. Memories of his first sessions with the Beatles are intact, but Kurlander's current project - tracking and mixing the London Philharmonic, along with a 60-voice chorus and some star soloists whose names he could not divulge, leaves little time for reminiscing. [More]

Thanks to Adele for the link!

Ringer Spy Ringfab writes: On the website of Ravensburger Puzzles I've found a picture of the new puzzle from ROTK. And on the upper left side of the puzzle you see highlight to read:Aragorn and Arwen in their marriage clothes. I did not see it before. I hope you like it. Minor Spoilers [More]

Ringer Spy Silicon Gollum reports: A tongue-in-cheek poll on Slashdot needs to be swamped. (Can anyone swamp Slashdot?) It asks for your "Preferred Tyrannical Overlord" and Sauron is currently running #2 to The Computer. We can't have that. [Vote!]

A few weeks ago, after the trailer for The Return of the King appeared online, there was much discussion about who was the person that was reforging Narsil. Was it Arwen? Figwit perhaps? Ringer Spy Valerya chimes in with what seems to be the final answer! SPOILER! [More]

As part of the pre-World Premiere celebrations, we're getting a double whammy of news from Antipodean Viggophile: Not only will his photos be exhibited in Wellington from November 29th, but he will be giving a poetry reading at 6pm on the 29th of November at the City Gallery Wellington. [More]

Giuseppe writes: Tonight (October 24th) The Massachussets Institute of Technology Symphony Orchestra, directed by Dante Anzolini, will perform the symphonic poem "Through the Mines of Moria", by the Italian composer Giovanni D'Aquila. This work is clearly inspired by an episode in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. This performance will open the symphonic season at the MIT Kresge Auditorium in Boston. [web.mit.edu]

Sebastian writes: Officially the first European quers started queing at 15.00 on Thursday in Malmö, Sweden. All of us are going to be here for the full 25 days. You can get more info at our website on www.lordofthefilms.com. The site will officially be opening during this weekend!

Update! Well it seems the Swedes were not the first ones after all. Kudos to Elrohir for allerting us to something we posted earlier here!

Sala Baker (Sauron), Brad Dourif (Wormtongue) and John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) are set to make appearances at Dallas Comic Con this weekend in Plano, TX (2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway). [More]

Taxpayers will have shelled out $8.5 million by March next year to promote Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which has so far made more than $3 billion around the world. [More]

Sir Ian McKellen has added a new feature to his website: a scrapbook of his own pictures he took during his stay in New Zealand! Be sure to check it out here! Kudos to everyone who emailed this in!

Andy Serkis (Gollum) is set to make an appearance at Propworld Con this weekend in Stockholm. [Propworld.nu]

Ringer Spy Sara writes: I bought a packet of pringles in the UK today and they had LOTR images on the packet and they are running some sort of competition to win the computer game. I haven't seen you post anything about it on the site so I thought I'd let you know! [More]

Saruman writes: Decipher has updated its list for ROTK and we can get some interesting titles such as "echoes of Valinor" "leaving forever" "into the west" and much [More]

Ringer Spy Ahriell writes: The Scottish Fellowship website was launched today. It is a very exciting website for anyone interested in LOTR. Members will find a lot of familiar sights, photos reports and so on, and new people will get a chance to see what we do and join us! Be warned though, you might have Billy Boyd, Craig Parker or Lawrence Makoare welcome you to the site.. [More]

Kyra writes: On Saturday, October 25 composer Randolph Partain is presenting his doctoral recital for the Shepherd School of Music. This concert will take place at Rice University's Duncan Recital Hall and will feature a cycle of songs in Quenya. [More]

airearan writes: There's a new, insightful interview with Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) by Scott Thill at salon.com. to view the entire article, one has to either subscribe or get a free pass by watching a short ad. they talk about politics, Perceval Press, and LOTR. there's also a lovely slide show of his Miyelo photographs. [More]

Jedi_Wannabee writes: I´ve just been informed that the presale for Return of the King tickets opens on December 1st, about two weeks before the big opening. All the 95 Danish cinemas will, the night before the first screening show the two previous movies in the trilogy and then the third film in a marathon. Last year, The Two Towers broke all Danish records with more than 250.000 tickets, and more than 100.000 tickets within 24 hours preordered. Together the first two movies have sold 2,4 million tickets in Denmark alone.

Robin sends in these scans from a recent article featuring our very own Ian McKellen (Gandalf). [More]

Quite a lot of people have emailed us over the past few days alerting us to some new things on the official site, LordoftheRings.net. First off there's a new video featuring Aragorn that has some nice interviews with Peter Jackson, Barrie Osborne and John Rhys-Davies and a lot of footage from the movies. The site also offers the possibility to get a free poster if you preorder your tickets for the EE-screenings of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers! [More]

Scoop.co carries the news of the NZ Govt's plans to capitalise on the attention that the ROTK world premiere will bring to the country. [More]

Ringer Spy Mibri sends along these excellent scans from the Dutch version of the Official Photoguide for The Return of the King! Included in this set; Pippin and the Palantir and Denethor's Pyre! !!!MAJOR SPOILERS [More]

“Lord of the Rings” star Sean Astin is taking up the battle to promote literacy and raise funds by advocating for family literacy issues across the nation as the Verizon Literacy Champion benefiting the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). Sean-Astin.net has posted a gallery from the event. [More]

Sideshow/Weta has just placed the 'You Shall Not Pass!" wall plaque on pre-order. The plaque is sculpted in relief, featuring Gandalf the Grey vs. The Balrog. Check it out! [More] [Scrapbook]

The folks from Pinballnews.com writes: Stern has officially announced what we've all thought for some time, that Lord Of The Rings is to be their next game. During our recent tour of the Stern factory, there was no attempt to disguise the next game and several clues were in plain view. It was obvious that there were going to be a bunch of character toys on the playfield, and indeed there are twelve of them in all, but now they've released some real details of the game. Excitingly, the game is supposed to have deep rules. That's certainly believable as Keith Johnson is responsible for them. He created the wonderfully complex rules for The Simpsons Pinball Party - widely praised amongst pinball aficionados. [More]

ingrid writes: Touchstone Pictures has given us a first look at the new poster for Viggo Mortensen's Hidalgo. Based on the true story of the greatest long-distance horse race ever run, the film is an epic action-adventure and one man's journey of personal redemption. Click the title link above for more info on the film. [More]

Without question, Cate Blanchett's physical elegance permeates her roles. Like a dancer, she seems to have complete physical and emotional control over her onscreen work, lending her characters dignity--whether they are queens or housewives. But forget her gracefulness for a second, and what soon becomes clear is the reason Blanchett has evolved into one of the most adored actors in the business: She always seems to ground her characterizations naturally and realistically. [More]

Kailin writes: Looks like London will get the Return of the King premiere on Dec. 11 at the Odeon in Leicester Square. Check out the link below to see all the film events coming up in London for the next three months. [More]

WeeTanya writes: Style.com is touting a medieval look this season. One of their examples for getting in the mood is Galadriel in her swan-shaped boat. Click on the "click for inspiration" link. [More]

Ringer Spy Corin sends along this great image of Gandalf in Minas Tirith! Take a look! !!!Spoilers!!! [More]

Noble Collection 2003

Jeff sends along these amazing scans from the latest Noble Collection Catalog! Take a look at these beauties! [More]

We like to give TORN readers the competitive edge when it comes to ticket buying, and knowledge is power, as they say. Ticketek gave me this information:
Tickets go on sale at 9am NZ time on Monday. We're on daylight saving here so this will be 1pm Pacific Standard Time on SUNDAY for folks in the States, and around 9pm Sunday GMT. Overseas bookings - like we've done for the Ringers party, you can opt for 'pick up at venue' and when you get to concert hall on the night, show your credit card at the box office (the same one you used to book) and they'll give you the ticket.

Robert writes to tell us of an event in Turin where Richard Taylor will be speaking, on November 3 [More]

Wellington City Council has a calendar of events online so you can see all the fun that's happening around December 1st. Our Return of the Ringers party is in there as well as the Folklore Festival of medieval goings-on. [More] There's still tix for TORN's party on the 30th, and tix to the Howard Shore concert go on sale this Monday at Ticketek People going on Red Carpet's Rohan tour should note that this tour doesn't get to Wellington in time to make the concert. Both tours - if you haven't received information about reserving your spot on the grandstand, go here for important information.

After a three day 'Trilogy Tuesday' exposé, the dust has settled. We fans have had our chance to vent. New Line has spoken and Tolkien fandom marches on. In our final report, we try to put the matter of 'Trilogy Tuesday' into perspective and provide some 'solutions.' [More]

Orlando Bloom at the 'Hollywood Awards Gala'

Click here for TORN DIGITAL XV

Quickbeam writes: These days it seems we just can't get Orlando Bloom out of our hair. He follows us into restaurants. He is always hanging around the back of the bus, thinking we don't notice him. But of course he's at Starbucks, every morning, hiding behind an old copy of the L.A. Times acting non-chalant. That's the price we pay being part of TORN -- always in demand in Hollywood -- we could wave a stick and hit 7 celebrities just begging to be on our videotape. And thus we have Mr. Bloom waiting for his chance! All he really wants is to share the love with all you shiny, happy Ringer fans. So after months of this clandestine behavior, we just turned around and said, OK, fine... we'll interview you. [More]

MSN Entertainment is currently hosting a clip that is obviously from the official site. It deals with the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and contains interviews with Karl Urban and Peter Jackson as well as some new footage from The Return of the King! SPOILERS! [More]

At the recent Collectormania 4 TheOneRing.net got the chance to talk to Kiwi actor Lawrence Makoare who played, amongst others, Lurtz and the Witch King about make-up, Christopher Lee and punching Viggo Mortensen in the face! [More]

Return of the Ringers, Wellington, November 30: We can fit a few more people in! This is going to be a BIG party. We have a portrait photographer offering her services if you want to record how good you looked in your costume. The Ringers documentary crew will also be there to record the event - didn't we say right at the beginning, for this party, YOU are the stars?

Also Phil Capper has ideas for marshalling the Ringers before and after Howard Shore's concert in Wellington on the 29th. [More]

The Lord of the Rings exhibition provides solace for British fans awaiting the December release of The Return of the King. Jessica Aldred braves the orc models and elf dresses to find out what makes the Tolkienistas tick. [More]

The good news: the MPAA and Hollywood's major studios are about to revoke the Oscar screener ban. The bad news: Academy members will be the only ones to receive tapes, to the exclusion of the directors, writers and actors guilds, members of the press and your hipster friend Bob, who knew a guy that knew a guy who could get him copies. [More]

Here are a handful of images featuring Orlando Bloom from the Associated Press. Orlando recieved his award for 'Hollywood Breakthrough - Male Performer'. Take a look! [More]

Geoffrey Macnab writes: It's a long way from Tolkien's Middle Earth to Watford town hall on a grey autumn afternoon. But Watford is where the orchestral music for The Lord of the Rings is being recorded. Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore and the London Philharmonic are in residence at the Colosseum (formerly the Watford assembly hall) to work on The Return of the King, the final part of the trilogy. [more]

Elijah Wood and Charlie Hunnam have been tapped to star in the indie "Hooligans" for Odd Lot Entertainment. The project is due to start shooting in April with Lexi Alexander at the helm. The story centers on a Harvard undergraduate (Wood) who moves to London after he is wrongfully expelled from the Ivy League school. Once there, he meets up with a young man named Pete (Hunnam), who introduces him to the violent underworld of soccer hooliganism. [More]

Online retail giant Amazon has made its first profit outside the traditionally busy Christmas holiday period, propelled by the company's free post and a surge in DVD sales driven by Lord of the Rings. The company, which has outlasted most of its rivals from the dotcom boom to become one of the biggest names on the internet, made a pre-tax profit of £9.5m compared with a loss of £21m a year earlier. [More]

A movie marathon is in store for "Lord of the Rings" fans when the final film in the trilogy is released. "The Return of the King" has its first public screening at midnight on the December 17. [More]

Bloom at the 'POTC' Premiere in June 2003

Utti writes: ET's video from the Hollywood Film Awards (featuring Orlando Bloom) is online. He confirms that he will be doing a sequel to Pirates of the Caribbean. [More]

Amanda writes: I just finished watching the last hour of the GQ awards and Orlando Bloom (Legolas) was there to introduce the winner for the Visionary Award, the winner was Peter Jackson! He wasn't there to pick up the award but he did give Orlando a letter to read to the fans.

More information and photos coming soon!

Today is a day long in coming, the entire INDIANA JONES series has been released on DVD! Be sure to catch our very own John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) in both the 1st and 3rd Indy films. I had the pleasure of telling John that my own dogs name is Indiana Jones! He enjoyed that little bit of info. Order your DVDs here! [Widescreen] [Fullscreen]

The GQ "Men of the Year" Awards show will be on the newly named SPIKE TV station at 9:00PM tonight (October 21). Be sure to see if we spot Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen or any other LOTR men who are up for awards!

India's most popular composer A R Rahman and Finland's influential contemporary folk group Värttinä are to collaborate in composing the score for the stage version of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, which will have its World Premiere in London's West End in Spring 2005. [More]

Eowyn writes: The latest Halloween edition of The Simpson's comic book (Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror) contains a LOTR comic parody entitled Ring Around The Simpsons inside. I saw it and I just couldn't resist picking up a copy. The price is $4.99 US and $6.99 CAN and I imagine can be purchased anywhere comics are sold.

Rebecca Murray writes: New Zealander Sala Baker is an imposing man in person, but unlike the terrifying bad guy he plays in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Baker is friendly and easy-going. I caught up with Sala Baker at the premiere of another New Line Cinema movie, "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and got to toss out a few questions about what fans can expect from the final film of the trilogy. [More]

Monica writes: Orlando Bloom (Legolas) will be on Entertainment Tonight. From the TE Website: Exclusive coverage of the 'Hollywood Film Festival' includes interviews with the honorees of 2003, such as Goldie Hawn, Ron Howard, Anthony Hopkins, Scarlett Johansson ('Lost in Translation') and Orlando Bloom ('Lord of the Rings'). ET plays at various times in the US and Canada, check your local listings.

Doorwarden of Theoden writes: The University of Chicago is offering a class in the languages of Middle Earth, with no prerequisite or knowledge of Tolkien required. I, unfortunately, could not take it because it meets at the same time as another class, but I certainly was tempted. [uchicago.edu]

Yesterday we brought you Parts 1 and 2 of our in-depth look at the happenings surround Trilogy Tuesday. We discussed the simple facts and showcased two horror stories from Boston, MA and Orange, CA. Today we bring you Parts 3 and 4; reactions from both New Line Cinema and the fans. [More]

Billy Boyd at London Expo 2003

Rosamunde Brownlocks & Gollumsess send along these great images from London Expo 2003. Take a look! [More]

ROTK Soundtrack Info

The Hairless Pukel Boy sends along this scan featuring information on the ROTK soundtrack! [More]

Natalie sends in these images from Decipher's ROTK set, they feature Eomer, images from Pelennor Fields and more! !!!Spoilers!!! [More]

Ringer Spy Draug, The Unspeakably Violent sends in this amazingly detailed report on Tony Wolf's recent appearance at Tufts University, including the Q&A session addressing many LOTR points. Wolf was fighting styles designer and combat instructor on all three LOTR films. [More]

Take a look at these Shelob images from Electronic Art's 'Return of the King' game. Does it hint of images/designs and storylines to come in December? [More]

Cast, crew share camaraderie in final stage installment of Tolkien's trilogy. When the curtain goes up on The Return of the King Friday, it will mark both an end and a beginning. Return is the final episode of Blake Bowden's stage adaptation of J. R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, which has been running almost in tandem with the three big-screen installments, starting in autumn 2001. [More]

Yes! What a weekend it's going to be in Wellington before the world premiere! Howard Shore's appearance with the NZSO is now officially confirmed! [More]

If you booked or planned to book for The Return of the Ringers Black Tie Banquet in Wellington on November 29th, there is an important announcement for you here. [More]

Mr. Mole writes: I thought you might like this, I saw you mentioned you only had it at extremely small resolutions. You do know that New Line printed 3000 special tickets (30 for each territory) including this artwork, they are beautiful and I'm sure, as are New Line, that these extremely rare tickets will be highly collectable. They are something to behold but I have no idea how they intend to pass them out, to the first who bought tickets, or raffles or if they just intend to hand them to special guests. I do know that each ticket comes with a hologram about the size of a nickel on their fronts and they (New Line) were obsessing about the perforations between the stub and the ticket so they wouldn't get damaged when they were seperated. [More]

MT_Wealhtheow writes: I don't know how interested you all are in the screener ban controversy since New Line seems unconcerned, but you might be interested to learn that the Los Angeles Film Critics Association has cancelled its yearly awards to protest the MPAA screener ban. This effects LOTR indirectly since the critics awards (which are usually given out in early December) influence the Golden Globes and the Oscars. [More]

Unfortunately we missed the news that Cate Blanchett (Galadriel) was on 'The Early Show' on CBS this morning. However you can see the full report and some video clips on the website. [More]

Craig Parker at London Expo 2003

A BIG Thank You to all the folks who have sent in their images and reports from London Expo 2003. Take a look at all the images here! [More]

An interesting report from TORN Fan TheBursar. He quotes Billy Boyd as knowing nothing about any extra filming in 2004 for ROTK. So what did that AICN report mean? Most likely the DVD crew will be heading down to NZ to film DVD menu scenes, like they did for FOTR:EE and (most likley) TTT:EE DVD.

The Hollywood Movie Awards are being held tonight (October 20th), at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Orlando Bloom will be presented with the "Hollywood Breakthrough Award - Male Performer Award", while Howard Shore will be honoured for his achievements for music-in-film. [More]

elfstone writes: There'll be series of LOTR roadshows in Malaysia from 31st October to December 7th sponsored by Maxis Hotlink. There will be loads of great prizes to be won at these events and Hotlink or Maxis subscribers could walk away with exclusive limited edition LOTR premiums! [More]

There is also a trivia SMS contest where participants stand a chance to win a Sony PDA, Nokia handphone, LOTR premium items and movie tickets. There will also be an extended FOTR and TTT screening slated for November and LOTR Movie Marathon in December.

Irascian writes: I finally got the transcripts to the two panels at Collectormania up on my web site. Panel 1, featuring a Q&A session with Elijah Wood and Sean Astin is here. [More]

The panel Q&A with Dominic Monaghan, Andy Serkis, Lawrence Makaore, Sala Baker and Brent McIntyre is here. [More]

And there is (cough!) an alternative guest report on the Collectormania event, for those who didn’t like my original web log report here. [More]

Jon writes: A fan forwarded me this jpeg with a review from Beyond Bree; as I haven't seen it yet on TORN. Can you post it on the home page? Thanks -- also, fyi, the book is now at the printer for its second printing, which is pretty impressive after less than six months in stores, so maybe that's worth a mention too? It should be available on or about 11/5. [More]

Order 'The People's Guide to J.R.R. Tolkien' on Amazon.com! Or ask for it at your local bookstore!

Isilnáriën writes: Aloha Xo! Here we are, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, reading with envy about the goings-on elsewhere: the Gathering of the Fellowship in Toronto, the Premier in Wellington, the TORN party, etc. (sigh) For those of us who cannot travel to those far away places, we have been saddened that we could not participate in those magnificent festivities. But no longer. Ahem, (in my best Bilbo Baggins voice) I have an ANNOUNCEMENT! [More]

Cyloran writes: I would like to pass on another report of Sean Astin's appearance as the closing speaker at the Generations United Conference in Alexandria, Virginia on Saturday October 18th. [More]

"Trilogy Tuesday." In the world of Tolkien fandom there could scarce be a greater or more anticipated occasion: The same-day presentation of all three Lord of the Rings films, on the eve of the debut of "The Return of the King." Rarely, if ever, in the history of movie making has a studio gone so far for its fan base. And yet, the small number of theaters tapped for the event guaranteed fierce competition for tickets. Fan anticipation was great, and demand extremely high. [More]

Today, October 20th is Viggo Mortensen's Birthday! Viggo was born on October 20th, 1958 in New York, NY. That makes him 45 years old today! Happy Birthday Viggo!