Jack writes: Here is a short 4:12 minute podcast from New Zealand's National Radio which includes some of the local reactions to the stunning news (even though they get it wrong, we are TheOneRing.net not .com!). It includes soundbites from NZ LOTR tour operators, I thought you and your readers would like to hear it. [More]

Word from a reliable source indicates that Sam Raimi has been approached to direct THE HOBBIT. Since Peter Jackson's (Middle-)earth shattering news that he is off the project, it seems the Spider-Man director may step into his place. Raimi was born on October 23rd, 1959 in Royal Oak, Michigan. His first big hit was 'The Evil Dead' but he really gained cult status with 'Evil Dead II'. It is his amazing work on the Spider-Man series that has propelled Raimi to the mainstream. His latest film 'Spider-Man 3' is due out this May.

While there is no word on Raimi accepting the invitation, it remains to be seen who, if anyone, will be replacing Peter Jackson!

Undoubtedly fueled by dozens of emails on the subject Sir Ian McKellen decided to update the e-post section on his website today. The main topic? Why the situation between Peter Jackson and New Line of course! McKellen states "It's hard to imagine any other director matching his achievement in Tolkien country." However, he is not too glum about the future: "We will have to await developments but being an optimist I am hoping that New Line, MGM and Wingnut can settle outstanding problems so that the long expected "Hobbit" is filmed sooner rather than later." Read his full answer here!

The Sydney Morning Herald reports on the recent developments concerning The Hobbit, including fan reaction right here on TheOneRing.net. [More]

TheOneRing.net and the entire Tolkien community spent the last day reacting to the jaw-dropping letter we received from Peter Jackson concerning The Hobbit.

Thanks to the support of many Ringers, we've compiled a contact list of individuals and companies who have a say in the decision making process and the events that have lead to Peter Jackson and his team dropping involvement with The Hobbit. We encourage you to make your voices heard and send letters and emails to the entities on this list. [Read the Letter] [React]

A day has passed since the big bombshell regarding Peter Jackson's removal as future director of The Hobbit. Ringers from around the world continue to discuss events and possible fan action in TheOneRing.net's IRC channel. If you to care to join us, simply sign in through our java chat using your browser. Alternatively, point your favourite IRC client to our server:irc.theonering.net and join #theonering.net. Come along and vent and discuss. All we request is that you do so politely!

We also have very lively discussion boards where the conversation is on fire. [Join in]

Eowyn sends along these great pics from the recent Ring*Con convention held in Germany. Take a look! [More]

Daniel writes: Every year the Ojai Music Festival has a house tour to help raise funds. This was the 61st year of the Festival and there was what has to have been the crowning jewel of houses on the tour. It was the Whitman House as noted on The One Ring on November 7th. This stunning home was designed and built by noted architect Marc Whitman and his wife Julia. Julia’s father bought the original home that had been built in the 1930’s as part of a cattle ranch. Marc remodeled the home in two phases with an eye to influence by art nouveau and gothic revival – especially Antoni Gaudi and Bernard Maybeck. The delightful result is a home that, to a Tolkien fan’s eyes, looks like a combination of a hobbit hole and Rivendell. [More]

The news of Peter Jackson's letter to us at TheOneRing.net has spread around the world faster than we thought possible. Here are some of the headlines we caught online today. Most of these articles repeat the same news..however it is interesting to see the medias reactions.

Peter Jackson: No More Hobbit
Studio to Peter Jackson: No Hobbit for You!
Jackson Not To Direct Hobbit; Nerds Weep
New Line not bringing Peter Jackson back for "The Hobbit" & second LOTR prequel(?)
Peter Jackson Will Not Be Making The Hobbit
Jackson: "I'm Not Making 'The Hobbit'"
“The Hobbit” without Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson On Why He Isn't Making The Hobbit
Peter Jackson not wanted for 'The Hobbit'
Jackson dumped from new Rings films
Jackson Out As Hobbit Director
Jackson will not direct Hobbit
Oscar-winning 'Rings' director Peter Jackson backs out of 'Hobbit'
Jackson Reportedly Out of 'The Hobbit'
Jackson Dropped From The Hobbit

The Monday, November 20, 2006 edition of 'Dork Tower' speaks for itself!

TheOneRing.net and the entire Tolkien community spent the last day reacting to the jaw-dropping letter we received from Peter Jackson concerning The Hobbit. Thanks to the support of many Ringers, we've compiled a contact list of individuals and companies who have a say in the decision making process and the events that have lead to Peter Jackson and his team dropping involvement with The Hobbit. We encourage you to make your voices heard and send letters and emails to the entities on this list. [Read the Letter] [React]

Variety has a short story rounding up the fracas surrounding the making of The Hobbit right now. Among all the regurgitation, the most interesting point is this one that provides some insight into the current thinking of MGM - which holds the distribution rights.

All of this has riled MGM, which in recent weeks has been openly touting the fact that the newly revamped studio is serious about making "The Hobbit" -- with Jackson.

An MGM spokesman said that "the matter of Peter Jackson directing 'The Hobbit' films is far from closed." [More]

The severing of ties between PJ and New Line did not mean Weta was automatically barred from doing The Hobbit, according to Weta chief Richard Taylor. "Peter would not impress that on us," Taylor said, adding that he did not know much about the Hobbit project yet and had not had a chance to talk to Peter.

Taylor said he wasn't aware that negotiations between Peter and New Line to film The Hobbit had gone as far as they had. "I was only aware they had gone as far as they had by reading today's article."

"We're hopeful that we may be invited to work on The Hobbit. There's nothing more that we would like to do in our careers."

Taylor said that Peter would "celebrate" if Weta got that opportunity.

Still too depressed about The Hobbit to think about anything else? Well these new DVDs on sale tomorrow may cheer you up for a while. There is some cool TV on DVD coming out including: 'Alias: Complete Seasons 1-5', Boston Legal S2' & 'Da Ali G Show: Da Compleet Seereez'. Be sure to take a look at 'Charlotte's Web Gift Set', 'A Fish Called Wanda (Collector's Edition)' & 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (50th Birthday Deluxe Remastered Edition)'. Personally I'm hoping 'Star Trek The Animated Series - The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek' & 'Seinfeld - S7' get me out of my slump! see the entire list of new DVDs available tomorrow right here. [More]

Like yourselves, many of us here have been getting more and more excited by the news that the Hobbit, whether via one or two movies, seems to be gradually drawing closer to production. The news that Jackson and MGM studios were in close talks and that production could begin as soon as 2008 or 2009 was particularly promising.

The news of New Line's apparent veto is cutting. What does it mean for the viability of the production? Will anyone back two films if Jackson is not directing? Who are the alternatives anyway? Will WETA still do the FX, and will the production be based in New Zealand? And will actors such as Ian McKellen still want to come on board?

A few of us are discussing these things in TheOneRing.net's IRC channel. If you to care to join us, simply drop in and join us through our java chat using your browser. Alternatively, point your favourite IRC client to our server:irc.theonering.net and join #theonering.net. Come along and vent and discuss. All we request is that you do so politely!

Moments ago we received this email from Peter Jackson and his crew down in New Zealand, take a look...it does not bode well for THE HOBBIT: Dear One Ringers, As you know, there's been a lot of speculation about The Hobbit. We are often asked about when or if this film will ever be made. We have always responded that we would be very interested in making the film - if it were offered to us to make. [More]

Update - Wow! Ringers are peeved! And we hear you! The TORn staff will come up with a plan and report back asap!

Lorien "Ramen" Carney, Community Relations Specialist for The Lord of the Rings Online writes: Today we’ve posted a new LOTRO Point of Interest, from a very memorable scene in The Hobbit featuring Bert, Tom, and William, three ill-fated Stone Trolls who’d hoped to make a meal of Thorin and company:

Exploring Middle-earth: Bilbo’s Stone Trolls

What is the best way to cook a dwarf? Alas, a certain trio of trolls never did learn the answer. [More]

LONDON (AFP) - Britney, Tiger, Gandalf and Madonna will soon join the more usual Peters and Janes in Britain's playgrounds, while Harry Potter may also drop in, according to a new survey of babies' names.

Other newly-fashionable choices include Snoop, after the US rap star, who may end up hanging out with Reebok and Adidas, said the survey of what parents are choosing to call their offspring.

"It seems that many of us are happy to take hero worship to a whole new level, naming our children after the stars we admire," said Sarah Malone of www.findmypast.com, the website which compiled the survey. [More]

In "Happy Feet," Elijah Wood plays a dancer in a world of singers -- It's just the sort of twist he loves. Having taken on a variety of eccentric projects, including "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Sin City," since starring in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Elijah Wood finds himself at it again. This time he's a dancing penguin in director George Miller's eco-friendly animated film, which turns on the unique mating calls of emperor penguins. Wood, who also stars in the upcoming ensemble film "Bobby," gives voice to Mumble, the sole dancer among a tribe of singers. (Costar Robin Williams has called it "March of the Penguins" meets "Riverdance.") [More]

Cirdan writes: Finally German LOTR-Fans will get a close look at stunningly detailed props, costumes, and creatures of the LOTR-trilogy! After its record-breaking season at Te Papa in 2002/03, and the blockbuster international tour that followed, the LOTR Exhibition has been seen by over one million people around the world. And now it comes to the Filmpark Babelsberg (http://www.filmpark.de) in Germany! Date: February, 1st - April, 29th 2007. The complete news (in German). [More]

A leading contestant for the longest game title ever, Electronic Arts' The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II --The Rise of the Witch-king for PC is officially gold and will ship to retailers November 28. The expansion pack enhances existing features and gives players the chance to command the rise of evil in Middle-earth. Rise of the Witch-king focuses on the epic battles that took place before those depicted in Peter Jackson's films. [More]

Be sure to check out our weekly Sideshow Collectibles update! Each week we provide an update on your favorite Sideshow goodies, from busts to premium figures and more! Take a look! [More]

LOS ANGELES - Lord of the Rings fans can anticipate a tease of EA Game's newest expansion "The Rise of the Witch-king" as part of its "Battle For Middle-earth" game. EA is holding a gaming and LOTR summit this week to put the expansion in the hands of websites and magazines including TheOneRing.net. We will update the website with info and opinions as the schedule allows and before the game's release we will roll out a full preview suitable for those who haven't delved into EA's computer real-time strategy game. Stay tuned for updates. [Rise of the Witch King]

The Florida Orchestra (Tampa, FL) will be holding a LOTR concert in February featuring Alan Lee's artwork. Follow the link and click on Lord of the Rings. I just picked up my tickets and very good seats are still available. They have not really started promoting this locally yet. Special thanks to Ringer Bomlin for the tip! [Florida Orchestra]

Thanks to Ringer Mark for alerting us to this Cate Blanchett update: Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett says she is putting her film career on hold to become artistic director of an Australian theatre company. Blanchett will take up her post at the Sydney Theatre Company in January with her playwright husband, Andrew Upton. [BBC.co.uk]

We got a note from a California based German Shepard rescue concerning a brother and sister dog pair who were recently rescued from an abusive home. The dogs, Arwen and Samwise, are in need of some medical care - as you can see by the picture and following the link. [Click Here]

Elijah Wood is slated to be a guest on 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien' tonight (November 16th) on NBC. He is there to promote his latest film 'Happy Feet' and most likely also talk about 'Bobby'. 'Conan O'Brien' airs on NBC at 12:35AM.

TheHutt writes: I have made a new trailer as a continuation of the parody trailers "Ring Fiction", "Orodruin Dogs" and "Natural Born Orcs". The new trailer is called "White City" and is an answer to the question of what would be if Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller and Quentin Tarantino made a film in Middle Earth. The result is a crossover spoof of "Sin City" and "Lord of the Rings", which was shown at the Ring*Con Video Contest 2006 on November 10th in Fulda, Germany. Starring Ian McKellen as Mickey Rourke, Viggo Mortensen as Clive Owen, Andy Serkis as Bruce Willis, Brad Dourif as Benicio del Toro and Elijah Wood as Elijah Wood! [More]