<Cinescape> Let's do it

<Cinescape> Thank you. It's great to be had!

<Cinescape> Beautiful.

<Cinescape> Shoot!

<Cinescape> I'm afraid I don't know anything about that. I would say your best source on such things is....Drumroll....TheOneRing.net

<Cinescape> Absolutely! In fact, it's happening already. Just look at the D&D movie. I would expect Robert Jordan movies and more if LOTR does big biz. Of course, none of these other films will do as well as LOTR.

<Cinescape> I would see that as highly unlikely. The plot hook isn't the same as with LOTR and The Hobbit.

<Cinescape> I'm assuming there will be ample exposition on the Bilbo angle, as well as at least one Gandalf speech...covering the ancient stuff.

<Cinescape> Excellent question! We're already talking to New Line about it....The serious push will likely come later. At the moment, it's just too early. I have my fingers crossed that we'll get some good stuff -- pics, interviews -- by the end of the year.

<Cinescape> We hear it's in the works. Beyond that, I don't know. But it would make sense to start the buzz this summer.

<Cinescape> Liv Tyler is obviously a draw for American audiences....If that means they want to pump her role up, well, I'm sure the folks in marketing won't argue with that...Plus it gives the film a stronger romantic angle, which could help lure a broader audience not familiar with the lore...

<Cinescape> To jump back to coverage of the films....Access is controlled through New Line....We love the folks at New Line. We think they're really on the ball....We have a good relationship with them, so we have high hopes.

<Cinescape> Their publicity folks are very proactive (to use a cliche term) and accomodating....Some publicists don't seem to know what it is magazines like Cinescape need and want. They don't understand us...Our experience has been that the New Line folks do understand us. They make more of an effort to each out to the genre press and the online press. ut who will get the first, big, blowout preview of LOTR? 'd watch Time and Entertainment Weekly w'll have our big preview a week or two later, I assure you!

<Cinescape> next

<Cinescape> Great question! I don't know about that, but I wonder. n some ways, LOTR lends itself to that, in other ways it doesn't.PJ's on a tightrope with the licensing end of things.He's got to make this appetizing for New Line, since they're putting in all the dough.On the other hand, he's got to stay true to the material.I don't think a Frodo Baggins Happy Meal would feel right. Know what I mean?

<Cinescape> But that's what supports a franchise these days.

<Cinescape> exactly....next

<Cinescape> Oh, boy! Once again I must refer you to Xoanon and his army of LOTR watchers. They know all there is to knwo

<Cinescape> next

<Cinescape> I can guarantee that we'll be the first of the genre mags to get LOTR materialnext

<Cinescape> Gooood question. I would say that's a question that's probably keeping Mike De Luca up at night.I would say that nothing could have a pre-release buildup as big as The Phantom Menace....But that's a good thing for LOTR. There should be high expectations for the film, but not impossible expectations...Anyway, everybody knows Star Wars. My mom knows who Darth Vader is!...But not everyone knows who Frodo and Gandalf are....

<Cinescape> Let's hope so!

<Cinescape> I should add that I'm sure New Line is looking at this very carefully.The last thing they want is an anti-LOTR backlash.Look what happened to Godzilla..Of course, LOTR will be a LOT better than Godzilla! But still, one must be careful.in this media-saturated world we live in.O.K., diatribe done....

<Cinescape> Hmmmm. I'd have to ask our Cinescape Online editors about that, Frank Kurtz and Keith Herber...I'm not sure what they're plans are.

<Cinescape> Another good question. I'm guessing that D&D is not going to do too well. I think some media types willlmisinterpret this, saying, "New Line better watch out! The public doesn't like fantasy!".But D&D won't do well, I have a feeling, because it's going to look pretty cheap.Did anybody out there see Wing Commander?

<Cinescape> I think the folks at New Line are smart enough to say, "The success or failure of D&D.has nothing to do with LOTR." Anyway, there'll be a pretty long gap between the release of D&D and LOTR.

<Cinescape> That depends on how the first one does. If Fellowship of the Ring is a mega-smash, promoting.The Two Towers is gonna be a breeze. If Fellowship doesn't perform up to expectations.Look for the advertising for the second (and third) film to play down the trilogy aspect.Part of the challenge for New Line is promoting a series of cliffhangers.This is almost never done! Remember how upset folks were about the ending of Empire Strikes Back?Or how Back to the Future Part 2 was seen as a complete anamoly? This is strange new territory for the marketing folksIt's smart to do whatever they can to keep viewers from having that "I paid eight bucks...I don't want to be left hanging!"feeling

<Cinescape> Sadly, yes. I love the Tom Bombadil part, but there are two dangers to it....(A) It's tangential. It's an aside. It doesn't have a direct impact on the main plot. And....(B) Please don't kill me. I love Tom Bombadil. But...well...he's a little...silly.

<Cinescape> Whew. I'm still alive! Anybody take my head off for that one?

<Cinescape> Wow. A service, I would think. I'm not as in touch with the ins and outs and battles of....Internet fandom. Do some people have a beef with TheOneRing.net? Why?

<Cinescape> Thanks for asking! Actually, we're worldwide, pretty much. I couldn't tell you country by country...where we're at, but we're distributed to most of the English and Spanish-speaking world.There are no translations of Cinescape that I'm aware of. Some of our sister mags (X-Files andBuffy, for instance) are translated into French, German and Spanish, I believe.

<Cinescape> Hit me

<Cinescape> Definitely New Line is going to want to avoid a backlash.I don't think they have as much to worry about as Lucasfilm, though. Hey, Star Wars is Star Wars.I'm sure PJ is aware of the need for smart marketing, but exactly what his role will be, I don't know.As for the Tolkien family, I would assume their role is minimal.They might get to approve some licensing and advertising...maybe... It all depends on the legal fine print....

<Cinescape> Gosh, you guys ask good questions! We haven't heard anything, but we're rooting for Macfarlane!

<Cinescape> There's no set schedule...that I know of, anyway. I would LOVE monthly updates, though! Mike De Luca, are you out there? Monthly updates to Cinescape is a wonderful idea!

<Cinescape> Well, I'm sure PJ would love to have a premiere down in NZ. But New Line is going to want it.where they can get maximum press play, which means L.A., New York or even London. As for the.actual release, I don't know. If they want the biggest splash possible, they'll open it in the U.S. and the U.K. at the same time

<Cinescape> That's a delicate question. I would say so far everything looks grand. But....I was just thinking...and this is really nitpicking...but I don't know if Ian Holm fits my picture of Bilbo.Now, I think Ian Holm is fantastic! Please don't get me wrong! But he has a sort of cold, cerebral feel about him. I see Bilbo as warmer, more of a mensch.

<Cinescape> 100 percent unavoidable. It will happen. I'd put my money on HBO.Let's see, who else does Warner Bros. own? I don't think they'll do anything on the WB. It'll be cable stuff, most likely.

<Cinescape> Sorta prior. Like a week or so. And if it the films do well, of course, you'll be able to buy it on video and DVD a year later!

<Cinescape> I don't think it can hurt. New Line needs to build awareness and excitement gradually....The can't just start screaming about the first film a month before it comes out....So 18 months? Yeah, maybe that's a bit early. But we all want to see that trailer, right? So I say...Bring it on!

<Cinescape> I hope so. My folks live in Atlanta, so it would be a good excuse to visit.I'd say it's more likely we'll just do that big con out in San Diego though.

<Cinescape> Wow. The worst case scenario. Well, I would say the answer is no. No matter how badly.Fellowship bombs, New Line must release the next two films in theaters. Why? Well, that's.because even if the trilogy dies a dog's death over here, they've got to release it in theaters overseas.to recoup. Releasing all three movies in theaters in the U.S. is an important part of building up.momentum for the international market. Even if your films don't do well here.Plus, it would just be too embarassing for New Line to go straight to video!They could always write off their theatrical losses.

<Cinescape> I would say there's definitely a chance. Maybe even a good chance. But the only thing I can really say is.We'll have to wait and see.

<Cinescape> Well, obviously there are time constraints. I got to interview Frank Darabont around the time.he was finishing up The Green Mile. And he made a wise observation. It was something like:"There is only so much punishment the human bladder can take."Meaning there are good reasons not to make movies that last four hours.It is amazing...really amazing...that New Line has commited itself to three feature films.But, even with three movies to play with, PJ could never squeeze EVERYTHING in.So, bottom line, something's got to go unless you want to do LOTR as a 12-hour miniseries.

<Cinescape> I sure as heck hope so. I'm a little worried about characters that are totally CG. I think they usually.don't work. Gollum is such a weird lookin' dude -- sort of shapeless and mushy, as I see him -- so.maybe he'll lend himself well to CG. My fingers are crossed.

<Cinescape> Yes, I do think Jackson can pull it off. I say that based on Heavenly Creatures, which is.an absolutely wonderful film. Now The Frighteners...well, that wasn't so wonderful. And.don't even ask me about Meet the Feebles! Oh my God! But that was a long time ago.I think it's clear that Jackson understands and respects LOTR. I think he's demonstrated that he's.a smart, daring filmmaker. So can he do it? You bet. WILL he do it? I don't know.

<Cinescape> My favorite character from all of Tolkien lore is Bilbo. I just love that guy. I always root for.the everyman, and I see Bilbo as the everyman character in Tolkien.

<Cinescape> As for rereleasing Fellowship right before Two Towers, I'd say that depends on how well Fellowship does...

<Cinescape> I haven't heard any rumors about Sauron. Keep an eye on Cinescape Online and TheOneRing.net! (Plug plug)

<Cinescape> My pleasure.