From cinecon.com: He’s fought Orcs in “Lord of the Rings,” stood side-by-side with “Xena: The Warrior Princess” and decimated monsters with The Rock in “Doom.” This weekend, Karl Urban will be in battling a new kind of fight – one in which he is caught between two very different worlds. Urban stars in Marcus Nispel’s action drama “Pathfinder,” a retelling of the 1987 Norwegian film “Ofelas.” Centuries ago, the Nordic Vikings stormed the shores of northeast America long before Christopher Columbus discovered the new world. During one of these visits, a boy named Ghost (Urban) is left behind and is raised by a Native American tribe. Fifteen years later the Vikings are back to claim their territory and a war with the Indians is in the midst, with Ghost’s loyalty trapped between two identities. [More]

Andy F writes: Just saw all the great LOTR inspired works of art on TheOneRing and thought I'd try and get my own shot at fanboy super-stardom. Attached you'll find two pics of my LOTR inspired Longboard Skate Deck. I've also included a link to the story of the Longboard. [More]

The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced that the postponed press night for Ian McKellen's King Lear will now take place as a matinee performance on May 31. Shakespeare's tragedy will be followed by an evening performance of Chekhov's The Seagull, also starring McKellen in the role of Sorin. The two plays, both directed by Trevor Nunn, will run in repertory at Stratford-upon-Avon's Courtyard Theatre until June 23. [More]

Tolkien fans rejoice. Dust off your ring, reveal those elf ears and
revel in Middle-earth. "Into the West", Lord of the Rings Fellowship of Utah invites you to participate in a full day of fun and frivolity. Activities include treasure hunt for the One Ring, Middle-earth dance, gaming, art room, workshops, vendors, crafts, lectures and keynote address by Professor Paul Hyde on the "Tapestry of Middle-earth." Read more here

Lorien "Ramen" Carney, Community Relations Specialist for The Lord of the Rings Online writes: Last Friday kicked off our public Open Beta program, giving players the opportunity to join the LOTRO World Tour and preview the game for free. Needless to say, things have really been 'hopping' ever since, and Open Beta was one of many topics discussed at last night's Stratics House of Commons dev chat. Check out the chat transcript for the latest on the LOTRO music system, the economy, and future content plans!

We've also just posted a new game systems overview introducing LOTRO's Fellowship Maneuvers system, the cooperative skill system that allows group members to discover and execute powerful team attacks on their foes! Game Systems: Fellowship Manuevers: Learn some of the finer points about LOTRO's cooperative skill system for fellowships. [More]

This overview joins our ever-growing Game Systems section, where new players currently enjoying our World Tour or Fournder's previews can learn the basics about LOTRO game play.

Ostadan writes: A French fan of Hasbro's popular miniatures game "HeroScape" spent fifteen hours to create "HeroScape Moria", inspired by The Lord of the Rings, from multiple copies of the game. His 'making of' gallery can be found here.

TORN Staffer Altaira writes: I thought you all might want to reminisce a little. One of the message board members pointed out that it was eight years ago today that TORn posted it's first news stories on the Home page. She also included a few of those first stories, and a pic of the original staff (see how young you all look? ;-P). If you haven't signed up for the boards yet, what are you waiting for? Click on the "Sign me up!" link in the lower left. [More]

The world premiere of Part Two of LEITHIAN, an opera by by Adam Klein, will be presented Saturday, April 14, 2007 at 3 PM and Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 7 PM, at the music hall of St. Michael's Church, 225 West 99th Street, New York City. [More]

Author Kristin Thompson sends along word of her new book due out soon 'The Frodo Franchise: The Lord of the Rings and Modern Hollywood'. The book is available on Pre-Order at Amazon.com: '"Once in a lifetime." The phrase comes up over and over from the people who worked on Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings. The film's seventeen Oscars, record-setting earnings, huge fan base, and hundreds of ancillary products attest to its importance and to the fact that Rings is far more than a film. Its makers seized a crucial moment in Hollywood--the special effects digital revolution plus the rise of "infotainment" and the Internet--to encourage existing fans while fostering a huge new international audience. The resulting franchise of franchises has earned billions of dollars to date with no end in sight. Kristin Thompson interviewed seventy-six people to examine the movie's scripting and design and the new technologies deployed to produce the films, videogames, and DVDs. She demonstrates the impact Rings had on the companies that made it, on the fantasy genre, on New Zealand, and on independent cinema. In fast-paced, compulsively readable prose, she affirms Jackson's Rings as one the most important films ever made.' [More]

Take an early look on our 'DVD Tuesday' feature...every Monday! Check out some Kung-Fu on DVD goodies like '36th Chamber of Shaolin', 'King Boxer' & 'One Armed Swordsman'. There are a few compilations out tomorrow including; 'The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2' & 'Hanna-Barbera Storybook Favorites'. The big release of the week is 'Bobby'. Personally I'm interested in 'Bobby' & 'Batman: Complete Third Season'! Check out the whole list here! [More]

Thanks to those who have written in to point out the UK's Tolkien publisher HarperCollins has released a trailer for the new 'Children of Hurin' book that will be released in about a week. TORn will be on hand at the New York City book event at Barns & Noble on the 17th in Manhattan where copies signed by Christopher Tolkien and Alan Lee will be for sale. Houghton Mifflin is the US publisher for the book. Check it out the book "trailer" here

The keys kindly provided by Turbine Inc. to try its massive multiplayer game "The Lord of the Rings Online: The Shadow of Angmar" have now been distributed! Winners from last week's contest have been notified via e-mail along with the key to try the game. A big thanks to Turbine Inc. (game developer) for providing the keys. We look forward to seeing many of you during the game's trial period before its official launch on the 24th! See Lord of the Rings Online for more info about the game.

Daniel Reeve also informs M.A.R.S. Productions that his maps of Cape Cod are now available! The famous Cape Cod, with its distinctive topography, features in this beautiful hand-drawn map, which covers an area of New England in the northeastern USA, from Boston to Connecticut, including Rhode Island, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket Island and Cape Cod itself. These beautiful limited edition prints are individually signed and numbered. Limited to 50 pieces worldwide. [danielreeve.com]

Mark writes: BBC Radio 4's Today programme have recently aired a series of quite interesting stories about Ian McKellen's King Lear. They offer a listen again service, and have some info on their website. [More]

M.A.R.S. Productions received the following news from LOTR Calligrapher Daniel Reeve: After the great success of the 1st edition on January 2006, with more than 4,000 guests in Cascina Robbiolo, from April 28 to May 1 2007 Tolkieniana Net Festival comes back to Buccinasco, Italy! This year, Tolkieniana will feature Daniel Reeve as a star guest, in a weekend celebrating music, art and calligraphy inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien. The weekend covers two themes, Hobbittana 70° and Back to Numenor, includes the events Eldamar IV and Alla Corte degli Elfi III, and runs in association with Tolkieniana.net, Eldalie, Bolgeri, Granburrone and ArsT. Daniel Reeve.

Claire writes: Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, UK, is hosting a triple bill of all the Lord of the Rings films today (Saturday 7th April). Visit the Centre's website and you can find contact details and access information here. Getting there by bus from the central train or bus station is really easy. Details of the showings aren't on the website yet, but they're already being advertised in the print version of the April magazine. As a Special Easter Offer, you can see all three films for the price of two. You needn't worry about eating and drinking between movies. Chapter has a cafe and a excellent bar with an amazing range of beers - and Pago fruit juices, my daughter's absolute favourite!

Sideshow Collectibles revealed their product packaging for the Faramir, Son of Denethor 12-inch Figure in their production blog. Check it out! And if you aren't part of the Sideshow Collectibles newsletter - you should be! They announced the next premium format figure will be Gandalf the White! [View Packaging] [Production Blog]

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]

Chaotica writes: The official site for the LOTR Musical in London has been updated with a bunch of character portraits, quite beautiful. [More]

LOTR Shadowfax star "Blanco" will be at Equine Affaire Ohio from April 12-15, 2007. Please come see him where he will be on display from 8:30-5:00 each day featured in the Celebrity Horse Showcase in the Youth Pavilion. In addition, we'll be bringing him out of the viewing stall once daily for an up-close and personal session once daily.. [More]

Westwood, MA – April 6, 2007 -- Turbine, Inc. announced today that the World Tour of Middle-earth has officially begun! Over one million North American gamers are planned to be invited to this unprecedented event where they can experience The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™ for FREE from April 6th until its scheduled launch on April 24th. Even more exciting, the World Tour also serves as a head-start for pre-order customers, allowing them to roll their characters into the launched game. [More]

Dane writes: I was watching Australia's "The Today Show". They were talking about a charity and how they have very limited editions of Xbox 360s with famous people's faces on them! They have spray-brushed faces onto a limited number of Xboxs for charity, and they held up one Peter Jackson's face on it! Some of the other famous faces included Toni Collette and Hugh Jackman. [More]

Xoanon here, sadly the Peter Jackson Xbox has been won!

The deadline to win a "Premium Format" Frodo statue, offered to message board members by Sideshow Collectibles and TORn, is tonight at midnight! The second prize is a Battle of Helm's Deep set by Play Along. To enter the drawing, go to the Login page, register on the new boards and post at least one message (or reply to a message) by midnight. Winners will be contacted via email on Friday, April 6, and announced here and on the message boards over the weekend. Come join the community! [More]

Visitors to TheOneRing.net will have a chance to participate in the "World Tour of Middle-earth" event in the "Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar," the anticipated massively mutiplayer online game. Turbine, Inc. and Midway Games want to give the core Tolkien internet community a chance to try the game as part of the over one million person invited event that starts April 6th and lasts until the game's official launch on April 24th. TheOneRing.net has been given 250 "keys" to pass on to fans who want to try the game for free! Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's mythical Middle-earth, the game allows players to explore and fight the forces of darkness in the time of "The Fellowship of the Ring". Players from TheOneRing.net are urged to seek out fellow TORn players by playing on the "Meneldor" server - although winners are free to play however they choose. We hope to see you in Middle-earth! [Enter Now!] [LOTRO.com]