Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced tonight that Eaglemoss — makers of the collectible chess partworks and figurines — has the license to make these items for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again.” This license also grants Eaglemoss the rights to make these collectibles for “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. These collectibles are due to ship during the fourth quarter of this year and they will come with a magazine as well as valuable chess tips.
Here is the full release from Warner Bros. and Eaglemoss:
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) is proud to announce that it has awarded leading partworks producer Eaglemoss the global licensing rights to develop collections based on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Under the terms of the deal, the licensee also has the rights to develop products based on The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Eaglemoss has already successfully launched DC Chess and Figurines Collections and now is extending its relationship with WBCP to develop figurine and chess partworks for the two films based on The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy that will launch in Q4 2012.
Each partwork collection will be a fortnightly series that offers movie fans, figurine collectors or chess lovers alike the chance to collect fantastic and unique chess pieces or figurines, each of which will be a true representation of the iconic characters from the two-film adaptation of The Hobbit, as well as The Lord of the Rings fantasy novels. Every chess piece or figurine comes with a magazine featuring images and artwork from the two films based on The Hobbit, as well as vital chess tips.
Bruno Schwobthaler, Senior Vice President, Sales and Business Development, Warner Bros. Consumer Products EMEA, said, “The Eaglemoss partwork collections will offer fans the chance to immerse and interact with the fantastical world of Middle-earth in a way in which has never been available before. The global scale of this deal and the quality and variety of products that will be available to collect reflects the widespread appeal of the two films based on The Hobbit. We’re confident that this product is going to be a huge hit with all consumers.”
Andrew Jarvis, CEO, Eaglemoss, added, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to build on our success with partworks based on The Lord of the Rings trilogy and to be developing new collections based on the magical characters, events and locations from the two films based on The Hobbit. We aim to create top quality collectibles that will become the classics of the future for fans of all ages”.
