Today marks the day the New Zealand Post, in an exclusive arrangement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Warner Bros. Pictures, and the filmmakers, releases commemorative stamps and coins for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
New Zealand Post’s spokesman for stamps and coins Simon Allison says:
We’re the only country in the world with the rights to produce these highly collectable coins, featuring iconic characters from what is sure to become a classic series of films.
The items announced today are appropriate mementoes of the film, and fit in with the mythology of Middle-earth – New Zealand. We’re committed to honouring the legacy of Sir Peter’s films, by creating stamps and coins of the highest quality.
Hit the break for hi-res pictures of the stamps and coins, and the world exclusive press release for the same, courtesy of our friend Emma over at New Zealand Post.
WORLD EXCLUSIVE
Ian McKellen – The Hobbit Trilogy’s Gandalf – sings praises of world exclusive coins celebrating the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Award-winning actor Ian McKellen has officially given his seal of approval to stamps and coins being produced by New Zealand Post to celebrate the eagerly anticipated movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM).
New Zealand Post is collaborating with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Warner Bros. Pictures, and the filmmakers to produce official stamps and legal tender commemorative coins for all three films.
New Zealand Post has today unveiled its designs for the world’s only legal tender coins linked to the first movie in Sir Peter Jackson’s trilogy of films based on The Hobbit, and for a set of stamps based on the movie.
Ian McKellen – who reprises his role as Gandalf in the new film after having embodied the character in Jackson’s Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – says the coins and stamps capture the essence of his iconic character.
“To put Gandalf on these splendiferous coins is a wizard idea,” Ian said from London, England this week.
Ian McKellen is also impressed by the specially designed stamps, noting: “The pointy hat, the beard and the illuminated staff – the $1.90 NZ stamp is pure Gandalf.”
Exclusive arrangement
“We’re the only country in the world with the rights to produce these highly collectable coins, featuring iconic characters from what is sure to become a classic series of films,” New Zealand Post’s spokesman for stamps and coins Simon Allison said today.
The coins – which are legal tender – will go on sale from 1 November 2012, alongside a set of six stamps celebrating the film.
“The items announced today are appropriate mementoes of the film, and fit in with the mythology of Middle-earth – New Zealand.”
“We’re committed to honouring the legacy of Sir Peter’s films, by creating stamps and coins of the highest quality,” Simon Allison says.
For more information about these exciting collectables visit:www.nzpost.co.nz/
Selected products will be available from 1 November at PostShops, REAL Aotearoa stores, and online at www.nzpost.co.nz/thehobbit or by phoning 0800 782 677.
Note: New Zealand Post is authorised by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand as the only official issuer of legal tender New Zealand commemorative coins.
About The Hobbit Trilogy
A production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is the first of three films from filmmaker Peter Jackson, the Academy Award-winning director of “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, who shot the films concurrently on locations across New Zealand. The screenplay for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro. Jackson is also producing the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and the second and third films of the trilogy are productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television distribution being handled by MGM.
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” will be released on 14 December 2012, with the second film, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” releasing 13 December 2013, and the third film, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” slated for 18 July 2014. www.thehobbit.co.nz
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
© Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc.
