Pirates of the Caribbean stars Keira Knightley, Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are taking to the high seas for real by joining a round-the-world yacht race, it was announced today. The Hollywood trio will help to crew a boat taking part in the gruelling Volvo Ocean Race. The vessel will be named the Black Pearl – after the pirate ship in the film - and its sail will feature a giant skull and crossbones. [More]

The 25th annual Genie Awards will air tonight on select Canadian and some US stations. Think of them as the Canadian Golden Globes. Ian McKellen has been nominated as 'Performance by an actor in a leading role' for his work on 'emile'. His competition includes MICHEL C'TÉ (The Last Tunnel), ROY DUPUIS (Looking for Alexander), DAVID LA HAYE (Nouvelle-France) & NICK STAHL (Twist). [genieawards.ca]

The Weathertop Environment from Sideshow/Weta Collectibles has gone on pre-order. It is a 3,000 pc limited edition and costs $100. Check it out! [Click Here]

New York was brought to life for one final time with a king-sized carnival to celebrate the end of King Kong filming.

Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson hosted more than 1000 people at the film's elaborate 1930s New York set at Seaview, Lower Hutt, on Saturday. Every person who had a hand in the movie – from Hollywood stars to construction staff – was invited to the carnival-themed family event and no expense was spared. [More]

One man to lead them all and his name is Matthew Warchus. At Wednesday's news conference held to announce that Mirvish Productions were bringing the world premiere of the musical version of The Lord Of The Rings to Toronto, producer Kevin Wallace introduced Warchus as the man whose unifying vision would bring the $27-million project to life. As the slight, unprepossessing 38-year-old walked onto the stage, it's a safe bet most of the crowd had no idea who he was. [More]

Adele writes: The famous Abbey Road Studios in London are hosting a film festival from March 19th to April 3rd, to mark 25 years in the film score business and will be showing The Two Towers in Studio 1 as part of the celebrations. [More]

Fantasy artist Alan Lee, who won an Oscar for his work on The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King will be a special guest at Interaction, the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention, which takes place in Glasgow this August. Mr Lee, who appears in cooperation with the Tolkien 2005 conference, will attend the convention on Saturday 6 August and Sunday 7 August. [More]

Vancouver-born JOHN HOWE, whose books and images of Tolkien’s world including Gandalf, Gollum, Orcs, Black Riders, so inspired film director Peter Jackson that he hired him to bring The Lord of the Rings trilogy to life, will do two exclusive signings for his book Myth & Magic-The Art of John Howe, published by Harper Collins: Chapters Kitchener, Friday, April 22nd at 7:00 p.m. and World’s Biggest Bookstore, Toronto, Saturday, April 23 at 2:00 p.m. [More]

Canadian Howard Shore’s magnificent The Lord of the Rings Symphony will transport audiences into Tolkien’s world with live performances by the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Markus Huber and a chorus of more than 250 voices from the Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Choir, Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Youth Choir, Kitchener Waterloo Philharmonic Children’s Choir and Consort Caritatis under the artistic direction of Howard Dyck. Performances will take place Saturday, June 4, 7:30 p.m. at Centre in the Square, Kitchener and at Roy Thomson Hall, Sunday, June 5, Toronto at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. [More]

JacquieG writes: Toys R Us.com has started taking pre-orders for the next set of ToyBiz Lord of the Rings Action figures. Fellowship and Two Towers pre-orders are to be shipped April 15 and Two Towers should go out April 28. [More]

Jamie writes: I was watching the new TV show "Jake in Progress" last night (just once I promise!) and he was talking to an actress about getting together and she said it had to be soon, because, "I'm in the next Peter Jackson movie, and I'm going to New Zealand for like, the next nine years!"

Ian writes: Thought you guys might want to know that the website somethingawful.com has done a photoshop feature called "Sci-Fi vs Fantasy", and there are a lot of Lord of the rings movie pictures included (some of which are quite funny) (Adult Content Warning). [More]

Sandra Bullock, one of Hollywood's highest-paid and most popular actresses, wants to work with Peter Jackson. "He is God. Peter is fantastic. Look at the work that he does. It's someone who takes no prisoners. He executes his vision and there's a reason his films are so good," she said in Sydney yesterday to promote her new movie Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous. "You always want to work with directors like that – someone who you can rely on and go to and go: `I'm going to do my homework, but I trust you completely and I'm going to let go and allow you to lead the ship.' It's rare that there are directors like that, it's a rare, rare breed." [More]

This is your last chance to give us your opinions on the One Ring Celebration that took place Jan 14th-16th 2005. The ORC Satisfaction Survey will close at midnight, EST today. Don't miss your chance to have a say in how next year's ORC unfolds! The survey will take 10 minutes or less to fill out. For all those who have already responded, thank you! [More]

Steven writes: This link is to a report about George Lucas's plans to re-issue Star Wars in 3-D. Towards the end it features Peter Jacksons views and the fact that he has shown some converted LOTR footage in 3-D. [More]

Miranda Otto can be spotted in the new teaser trailer for 'War of the Worlds' the latest Steven Spielberg/Tom Cruise blockbuster. Blink and you will miss her, however the teaser is enough to give you chills! [More]

Tim from Lumière Industries writes: Thought you'd like to know about an event on interest which my website, "The Lumière Reader", is involved with. Called "Semi-Permanent", the conference is Australasia's largest design and creative event, taking place in Sydney, Australia. [More]

'Then Feanor began a long and secret labour, and he summoned all his lore, and his power, and his subtle skill; and at the end of it all he made the Silmarils.' (The Silmarillion) This weekend, we return to our Silmarillion chapter chats in Hall of Fire with the tale of the making of the Silmarils - Feanor's most wondrous creation. But out of them arose unrest as well as beauty. [More]

AUSTIN, Texas - Before he ever threw a punch in "Hooligans," Elijah Wood had to fight just to get the movie made. The "Lord of the Rings" star helped secure financing for the film by Lexi Alexander, which made its world premiere at the South by Southwest film festival, about the violent gangs — or "firms" — associated with England's soccer teams. [More]

Also be sure to check out a few images of Elijah at the SXSW Film Fest. [More]

TaffyCat writes: On Saturday, April 30, at 3:00 pm in the Community Room of the Bloomington, Illinois Public Library, author David Salo will speak on the Elvish languages in the Lord of the Rings and various aspects of his involvement with the movies. David served as a linguistic consultant and wrote dialogue and songs in Elvish for the Lord of the Rings movies. He is the author of the recently released book 'A Gateway to Sindarin: A Grammar of an Elvish Language from JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings'. [More]

Dimenthoniel writes: I have been on the site a few times here and there. Anyway, last month, I did a photo shoot for the new Boromir clothing line being released from Museum Replicas. New Line authorized the line of clothing in September, but production of the items did not begin until last month. As a vendor for Museum Replicas, I had the wonderful chance to be Boromir for a day, as I was willing to do the job for free and had a hand in the design process first-hand. It was great to be able to etch my own little place in LOTR history by posing as Boromir for the upcoming catalogues. [More]

SEOUL, March 16 (Yonhap) -- Peter Jackson, the New Zealand director of the Hollywood movie trilogy "Lord of the Rings," will establish a film studio jointly with a South Korean film investment company, a local business group said Wednesday. Daesung Group said Jackson's Park Road Post will launch a joint venture firm in South Korea with the group's venture capital investment subsidiary Binext. [More] (Subscription Needed)

Elijah Wood is slated to be a guest on the 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' Wednesday, March 23. Keep an eye out for that.

The May LOTR convention in Seattle announces the addition of Weta artists to its lineup of guests. Also appearing are Kiran Shah and Ted Nasmith, and casts of the very funny "Dork of the Rings" and "Journey to Microdor" - both must-see fan films. [More]

Can't wait for the musical? Family media company Veggie Tales is working on a computer animated children's DVD that will be called "The Lord of the Beans."  A preview is on their latest DVD "Duke and the Great Pie War".  It will include "baggy pants" instead of Baggins and Sporks (fork plus spoon combo) instead of Orcs.  Instead of a Ring their is a Bean, etc. Veggie Tales Thanks to Odd Gelki for the news!

Dark Horizons has some information on the DVD release of 'LOST: The Complete First Season', due out September 6th. Each of the episodes will be presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen along with English Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. Extras will include the never-before-seen, extended uncut version of the original pilot, exclusive, in-depth behind-the-scenes looks at the making of the show, backstage with Drive Shaft all-access pass behind the music, the art of Matthew Fox featurette; 'Before They Were Lost' original casting tapes, a blooper reel, rare deleted scenes and multiple filmmaker audio commentaries. Retails aroung $60.

Pre-Order 'Lost: The Complete First Season' on Amazon.com today!

For Immediate Release: March 16, 2005: The book trilogy has sold in excess of 200 million copies. The multi award-winning three-film adaptation broke box office records. Now, J.R.R. Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS arrives on stage. An acclaimed international creative team has combined all three books into one unmissable theatrical event. With a thrilling score, a spectacular design, and featuring an ensemble of over 65 actors, singers and musicians, THE LORD OF THE RINGS is the biggest and most ambitious theatrical production ever staged. [More]

A repeat showing of Cate Blanchett on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' will air tonight on NBC. If you haven't seen it, it's new to you!

Deenan writes: I'd thought you'd like to know that Elijah Wood's Indie film "Hooligans" picked up the top prizes for narrative feature film from both the jury and audience at the SXSW festival. [More]

London — A much-anticipated musical based on The Lord of the Rings will have its world premiere in Toronto next year, the show's producers announced Tuesday. The $22-million show will open in March 2006 at the Princess of Wales Theatre with a largely Canadian cast, producer Kevin Wallace said. [More]

Toronto's Mirvish organization may be on the brink of winning rights to a $30-million (U.S.) version of The Lord of the Rings -- the most expensive musical in stage history. If negotiations succeed, it would open next March at Toronto's Mirvish-owned Princess of Wales Theatre for an indefinite run. Today, impresario David Mirvish is said to be huddling with the show's lead producer, London's Kevin Wallace, hoping to hammer out final details of a production agreement. Wallace arrived last night from London. [More]

John Rhys-Davies will be in the made-for-tv Movie 'Revelations' on NBC. The show airs on Wednesday, April 13th. [More]

There are only a few more days left to participate in the ORC Satisfaction Survey for the One Ring Celebration that took place Jan 14th-16th 2005. The excellent feedback we've had so far will help us make next year's ORC even better! If you attended this event, please give us your feedback. It will take 10 minutes or less to fill out. [More]