July and August are the last Red Carpet LOTR tours that will be able to include the LOTR props exhibition at the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa. Very implusive tourists may be in time for the July 10 tour, however the August 14 tour is also still accepting bookings. The Te Papa LOTR exhibition closes on August 20 and its future after this is uncertain. [2006 Tour Schedule] Meanwhile, previous tour fellowships are plotting return visits on the Red Carpet Fellowship Tour EziBoard.

JulieAnna let us know about a signing with Sala Baker in California. He will be at 'Antiquities of California' (PIER 39) on Saturday, July 1st. [pier39.com]

Meghan, Online Community Manager for The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar writes: Today we announced a LOTRO Riddle Contest, where community members are invited to submit Tolkien-styled riddles for our content team to use in the game as the basis of quests or as scraps of lore found throughout the land. We expect this to be a lot of fun for the community. Winners whose riddles are chosen will win entry into our Beta Program! Speaking of Beta, MMORadio will be giving away Beta keys throughout the month of July to their listeners, so let your visitors know they might want to tune in. [More]

LOS ANGELES — When Bryan Singer opted to abandon the third film in his dream X-Men franchise to live out another dream relaunching the Superman empire, a hoard of mutants were concerned. Perhaps none of the X-Men stars had more cause for wariness at the arrival of new director Brett Ratner than Sir Ian McKellen, an Oscar nominee and endlessly decorated British theater icon who first entered the Marvel Universe for the chance to reunite with his Apt Pupil director. [More]

Oscar-winner Denzel Washington has confirmed he visited Wellington to see director Peter Jackson and the Hollywood heavyweights will collaborate on a new film project. A relaxed and casually dressed Washington turned heads at Wellington airport yesterday as he flew out at the end of a four-day work trip. He told The Dominion Post he had been in town to explore a film project that would require fellow Oscar-winner Jackson's help. Speaking at the check-in counter, Washington said he would direct the movie, which he hoped would be released in two years. Jackson would provide the special effects. However, he was reluctant to divulge further details – or say whether any filming would be done in the capital. When asked whether he had met Jackson during his visit, Washington replied: "Of course." [More]

Film star Orlando Bloom has begged studio bosses for time off promoting the latest Pirates Of The Caribbean movie, to watch England compete in the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Saturday. The football-mad actor has been promoting Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl around the world, but is desperate to have a few hours off to watch captain David Beckham and his team play Portugal in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. A friend says, "Orlando loves his football. He has been glued to the World Cup. He wouldn't dream of missing England's quarter-final clash with Portugal." [More]

Adele writes: The march will assemble at the top of Baker Street at noon on Saturday 1st July 2006 before VIP’s including Sir Elton John and Sir Ian McKellen lead the march down a new route along Oxford Street ending on Victoria Embankment. Events will also take place in Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square. [More]

Speaking of Orlando Bloom, you can catch him tonight on 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien' on NBC. He is there to promote his latest film 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest'. 'Late Night' airs on NBC at 12:35AM. Watch this place for a clip!

Orlando Bloom was a guest on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' last week to promote 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest'. They spoke a bit about Orlando's broken bones, his time at drama school and showed the Will action figure. Take a look! (46MB MOV)[More]

Geri writes: I just thought you like to know that Ian McKellen will perform a one-man show, "A Knight Out in L.A.," at the University of California, Los Angeles' Freud Playhouse (MacGowan Hall, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024) on July 22-23 to benefit the Los Angeles Young Actors' Company. [Tickets]

TORONTO (AP) -- The mammoth stage production of "The Lord of the Rings," which was mostly panned by critics, is closing in Toronto. Producer Kevin Wallace said Wednesday that the $24 million, 3 1/2 hour show will close Sept. 3. "We're doing respectable but were not sold out. The scale of this show needs that," Wallace said at a news conference. "The costs are 50 percent more than 'The Lion King' to run so it (the theater) must be full," producer David Mirvish added. It was announced last week that "The Lord of the Rings," believed to be the most expensive show ever mounted, will open in London next year - trimmed, tightened and reworked since its Toronto premiere at the Princess of Wales Theatre in March. The show's debut met with a harsh critical reception. [More]

LEITHIAN is based on THE SILMARILLION by J. R. R. Tolkien, “1977 George Allen & Unwin (Publishers) Ltd., and is used by permission. This concert performance will feature Tami Swartz, soprano; Adam Klein, tenor; David Adam Moore, baritone; Dianna Dollman, mezzo-soprano; George Kasarjian, countertenor; and Elizabeth Hastings, music director. [More]

Ramen, Community Relations Specialist for The Lord of the Rings Online writes: We’ve just posted a brand new Developer Diary on the official LOTRO site. 'From Orcs to smials, Lead Content Support Artist Rick "October" Schmitz discusses the wide assortment of objects his team is creating for The Lord of the Rings Online, and takes you on a revealing tour of a Game Artist in its natural habitat! [More]

Tigger writes: I just saw over at CBC.ca that The Lord of the Rings Musical dominated the Dora Awards tonight in Toronto. The Doras are the Canadian version of the Tony Awards. [More]

A ton of interesting new films are out on DVD this week. Take an early look on our 'DVD Tuesday' feature...every Monday! Check out Madea's Family Reunion, Find Me Guilty, Ultraviolet & more! [More]

Steven writes: I just got back from the LOTR Symphony in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and wanted to share with you my impressions of the evening. The music was presented in 6 movements and ran for around 2 hours. The first part before the interval was devoted to the Fellowship of the Ring, which meant that the movements for the second and third films were squeezed into the last hour, which was a bit of a shame because there’s some great music in those scores. Nonetheless, the music included was played really well. [More]

Malissa writes: I saw one of TORN's latest posts about there being a new set of trilogy DVD's to come out this fall. Well, I went to lordoftherings.net, & they have an advertisement about it on the main page! They are all three to release August 29th. Here is the page dedicated to the new DVD's. [More]

Robin writes: I just returned from a trip to Toronto where we saw the fantastic new musical, Lord of the Rings. I loved the play and the music was great. The only thing I was disappointed in was that there was no CD of the music (they are saving that for the London cast) and there was no programs to purchase that had photos of the musical. BUT! I was able to find some great photos in the local "Where" magazine for tourists, the local newspaper and a pamphlet that was available in the theater. I did notice in the hand-out program that there will be a "The Lord of the Rings: The Official Stage Companion" Based on the stage production - Available in August 2006 for $50.00 (Canadian?) Also, I'm including a picture of the items I purchased in the theater's shop - poster, magnet, key chain and mug. Hope you enjoy these pics! [More]

Meghan, Online Community Manager for The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar writes: As part of a special promotion, we’re going to be sending an additional round of Beta invitations to the top 100 guilds who sign up the most people for the LOTRO Beta. The top 10 guilds will automatically receive up to 100 Beta invites and the remaining top 90 will get up to 20 invites! [More]

From djdeathskiss via Comingsoon.net: Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest) will join Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns) in Seasons of Dust, a Depression-era drama written and to be directed by Tim Blake Nelson, reports Production Weekly. In the film, Janey (Bosworth) takes refuge with a farm family after grandfather's suicide. But when the son tries to rape her, she injures him badly. Not knowing if he is alive or dead, Janey flees, and ultimately takes up with Ricky (Bloom), a dashing crook who is also on the lam. With the law and two hired hit-men hot on their trailer, Janey and Ricky engage in a frantic cross-country odyssey, trying to stay one step ahead of their determined pursuers. Production is scheduled to begin mid-July in Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Movie Chat kicks off the summer schedule with a very special double-feature: 'Alien' and Aliens!' The stirring tale of the crew of the Nostromo, and the further adventures of Ripley have entertained fans for over twenty years. Join us in what is sure to be a lively debate on the styles of Ridley Scott and James Cameron, the virtues and flaws of both films, and a lot of hooting over our favorite lines: "Game over, man!"

TORn's chatroom takes a break from discussing all things Tolkien every other weekend to watch a classic film en masse as their very own MSTK. Join us Sunday at 2:30 pm EST when we'll pop our copies of 'Alien' (theatrical version) into our DVD players. Then, at 5:30 pm EST, we'll continue with 'Aliens' (special edition). [More]

Also, please check out our tentative Summer Schedule, as voted on by the fine folks in Barliman's chat room. Upcoming featured films include: a double-feature of 'Galaxy Quest,' 'Ghostbusters,' and 'Princess Bride.' [The Schedule About IRC chat]