Ringer Rohirrim Rider — an insider in the UK cinema industry — provides the following news that provides…
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Ringer Rohirrim Rider — an insider in the UK cinema industry — provides the following news that provides additional support for our October 18 report about the running time for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
We’ve now got our Hobbit screenings programmed in — we’re working with a runtime of 160 minutes.
Amidst talk over on BoxOffice.com about The Hobbit, one user has revealed that a “For Your Consideration” booklet circulating around Hollywood for The Desolation of Smaug lists a run-time of 156 minutes.
I RSVP’d to a screening on the WB lot and it lists 156min as the runtime.
Continue reading “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug runtime is 156 minutes?”
Could the Disney theme parks be the next potential location for a Lord of the Rings-themed attraction? We reported back in January and also in February that tongues were wagging about a possible Middle-earth theme park partnership between Warner Brothers and Universal. There was even documentation that the Saul Zaentz Company had registered “several uses for Middle-earth properties that includes theme parks.” But those rumors seemed to have fizzled.
Now it seems that, “Disney and Warner Brothers have either signed or are very close to singing an agreement that will bring “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” movie-inspired areas to the Disney Parks.” WDW News Today is reporting that the partnership has been in the works since late last year and is now practically a fait accompli. The story claims that Disney may incorporate a Middle-earth attraction as part of an overhaul at the California Adventure park in Anaheim, CA. It also suggests that Disney may be looking for Hobbits to give them an edge over Hogwarts in order to compete with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter area at Universal Studio’s theme park.
WDW News today says, “As with any rumor, you should take this with a grain of salt until it is actually announced.” Is it likely that Disney would be able to overcome the hurdles that have hung up similar ventures? That they could overcome the long-held anti-Disney prejudice from within the Tolkien Estate itself? TORn staffer Demosthenes points out Tolkien’s Letter #13, where he famously insisted that he would “veto anything from or influenced by the Disney Studios (for all whose works I have a heartfelt loathing).”
Additionally, should the supposed negotiations be happening on the studio level, making an end-run around the Tolkien Estate, it seems unlikely that Warner Brothers would be keen to work together after Disney stole Oz out from under them when they released Oz the Great and Powerful earlier this year. “The Walt Disney Company did not own rights to the original 1939 The Wizard of Oz movie but moved stealthily to mount an audacious raid on the story and leave a rival studio flat-footed.”
But perhaps TheOneRing.net’s April Fools’ story this year was actually prescient and we will enter an era where Hobbit feet and Mouse ears can coexist in one big glorious theme park universe. Or maybe we’ll all just have to aspire to visit the real Hobbiton for a while longer.
At 12 noon today, TheOneRing.net staff will be presenting An Unofficial Sneak Peek: The Desolation of Smaug in Room 1A14 at the New York Comic-Con.
Join us then! But if you’re going to NYCC, be sure to get in line early — the room may be full!
Plus a quick reminder: swing by the TORn stand at the Con at Booth 3008, particularly if you’re on the hunt for our merchandise. As we’ve previously announced, many of our current designs are being retired and this will be your last opportunity a whole bunch of our awesome t-shirts, buttons and other goodies! Continue reading “Get an unofficial sneak peek at The Desolation of Smaug at Comic-Con today!”
It’s one of the things that we’ve been waiting for and waiting for — the opportunity to see what Peter Jackson’s Beorn looks like in human form. From the front.
For some this will be a huge SPOILER. So run away now if you’re avoiding them! Continue reading “Finally! See the human face of Beorn!”
We’d heard and reported the rumours that the next Hobbit trailer was coming soon — probably next week, and probably attached to Gravity. Looks like those guess and rumours could be on the money!
That’s because the Alberta Film Ratings website, which lists trailers before they appear in US theaters, has just today listed the details for trailer #2 for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Continue reading “Alberta Film Ratings lists new 2:23 minute Hobbit trailer!”
