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Never in recent memory has a movie bungled its Best Picture chances quite like Emilia Pérez. Some have lost their steam through the months-long awards season, but only Emilia Pérez’s slip has fallen on one person: its star, Karla Sofía Gascón, whose resurfaced tweets that were rightly deemed full of bigotry and hate came back to haunt not only her, but the film itself. Now, Netflix is finally commenting on the backlash and where the movie stands ahead of next month’s Oscars.

Appearing on The Town podcast (via The Hollywood Reporter), Netflix’s Cco Bela Bejaria said, “I think it’s really a bummer for the 100 incredibly talented people who made an amazing movie. And if you look at the nominations, and all of this awards love that it’s received, I think it’s such a bummer that it distracted from that. It really has kind of...

Exclusive: Elijah Wood signs with Gersh for representation.

Wood is best known for playing the beloved hobbit Frodo Baggins in the iconic Lord of the Rings trilogy of films The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. He will next be seen in Season 3 of the hit series Yellowjackets, which premieres tomorrow on Showtime. He will also appear in Osgood Perkins’ next film The Monkey for Black Bear and Neon releasing in theaters next weekend.

With a career spanning 30 years, Wood has continuously evolved his body of work with notable films including the Academy Award winning Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Sin City, The Faculty the Damien Chazelle penned Grand Piano, Celeste and Jesse Forever opposite Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg, Green Street Hooligans, Macon Blair’s The Toxic Avenger opposite Taylour Paige,...

Family matters in Middle-earth. Frodo and Bilbo are cousins. Frodo, Pippin, and Merry are all connected by blood in different ways, as well. Galadriel and Elrond end up in-laws. Even Aragorn and Arwen are ever-so-distantly related if you go back far enough.

Everywhere you look, family history influences events in Tolkien's world. The author even gives us some glimpses into family details that don't directly impact the main story, even if they're critical in setting the stage for it. For instance, we know who Frodo's parents are — and we know about their tragic fate, too.

Frodo's mom and dad are Miss Primula Brandybuck and Mr. Drogo Baggins. These are Bilbo's first and second cousins, respectively, which explains why Frodo initially got onto the Hobbit bachelor's radar as a potential heir. Frodo's parents both come from well-respected Hobbit households. The Baggins are down-to-earth, practical Hobbits who never go out of their...

There are plenty of prolonged cinematic experiences out there these days, but few of them have maintained their enduring appeal quite as long as Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Available in both long theatrical and extreme extended edition formats, binging through "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," and "The Return of the King" from sundown to sunset has become a favorite past-time for Tolkien fans everywhere (including yours truly).

If you're planning on a marathon soon, you may be wondering just how long the experience will be. How many meals do you have to account for? How many bathroom breaks will you need? How early should you start?

Let's start with the big picture. If you binge the theatrical version of the Middle-earth trilogy back to back, the full runtime is a butt-numbing 558 minutes long. That's nine hours and 17 minutes, for those of you counting at home.

The tale of The Lord of the Rings set the precedent for modern high fantasy. Peter Jackson’s live-action trilogy revolutionized cinematic adaptations. And Sir Ian McKellen lived up to the name and reputation of Gandalf the White. J.R.R. Tolkien’s imaginative universe never felt more realized than in the hands of Peter Jackson and his merry band of hobbits, trolls, men, and elves.

The Shire in Lord of the Rings [Credit: New Line Cinema]

However, despite the colorful and honest rendition of Tolkien’s Middle-earth, there was a somewhat troublesome aspect in Jackson’s vision of the Lotr trilogy. This not only irked the young actors in the film but Sir Ian McKellen, too, regardless of how brilliant he was in film and theater.

Sir Ian McKellen’s love-hate relationship with Lotr Sir Ian McKellen with Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings [Credit: New Line Cinema]

Despite having a long, enduring, and flourishing career in theater,...

Sir Ian McKellen has played some of the most legendary characters in his decades-long career. From theatre to film, the actor has brought several characters to life with his extraordinary acting prowess. However, one of his most famous characters will forever remain the wizard Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and later The Hobbit.

Ian McKellen as Gandalf | Credit: New Line Cinema

While fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world continue to love and cherish the actor’s portrayal, McKellen himself has kept iconic tokens from the franchise. Here is a glimpse into what treasures of the Middle-earth did he keep as souvenirs.

The iconic souvenirs that Sir Ian McKellen took from the Lord of the Rings set Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf | Credit: New Line Cinema

When actors wrap up filming, it is usual for them to nick pieces from the sets as a remembrance of their time spent on the project.

"The Lord of the Rings" is a franchise that is beloved by critics and fans alike. Films set in Middle-earth tend to do well at the box office, gather streaming steam without trouble, and are considered top rewatching material by many. However, a recent addition to the cinematic Tolkienian canon has officially ranked on Rotten Tomatoes as a blight on the otherwise impressive "Lord of the Rings" track record.

"The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" has set a new "Lord of the Rings" franchise record low with a 48% on the Tomatometer. This is the critical consensus, and it has a lot to say for a Warner Bros. project that had the makings of greatness but couldn't quite stick the landing.

"The War of the Rohirrim" was the first foray into the anime format for a Middle-earth film. The story takes place centuries before "The Lord of the Rings...

From Middle-earth to Gotham, this is why Max is a must for action fans.

When done right, action movies deliver some of the most thrilling movie-watching experiences out there. Whether it’s superheroes saving the day, heart-pounding car chases, or jaw-dropping martial arts showdowns, these films know how to keep you hooked. And it’s not all about gunfights - there’s just as much excitement in machetes, improvised weapons, and gritty, close-quarters combat. Throw in some unforgettable one-liners from the 80s and 90s, and you’ve got a genre that keeps the adrenaline pumping. If you’re wondering which streamer has the best selection of action movies, for me, it’s an easy pick: Max. Here’s why it’s my go-to for action movie fans.

Everything you need to know about the best streamer for action movies:

What action movies can you watch on Max?

What superhero action...

Every solid fan of The Lord of the Rings will know that the most significant event that never made it to the screen adaptation was the Scouring of the Shire. This was purposely excluded by director Peter Jackson for a very simple reason: to have a happy ending. No one likes the scouring part, anyway.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King / Credits: New Line Cinema

Truth be told, this dreaded scene is the real ending of the story, and it takes place after Sauron’s defeat. It’s a small battle, but it carries so much weight, and for Jackson, it only gives an anticlimactic effect to an otherwise peaceful conclusion.

Why Peter Jackson removed the Scouring of the Shire

The ending we saw in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was what we all expected to witness from a fantasy movie.

It’s no secret that Game of Thrones revolutionized the landscape of fantasy television in its 8-year run on HBO. But even with its distinct identity rooted in realism with the presence of supernatural elements, the show has failed to outrun The Lord of the Rings comparisons.

George R.R. Martin – Game of Thrones (YouTube) – HBO Entertainment

One cannot deny the obvious common themes between the two franchises, such as the presence of dragons, a looming evil like White Walkers (Got) and Sauron (Lotr), and large-scale battle sequences, to name a few. Moreover, George R.R. Martin’s open admiration for J.R.R Tolkien may have led to more parallels being drawn than ones that truly exist. The author of the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire‘ saga even commented on the rampant Tolkien comparisons in a 2012 interview.

George R.R. Martin denied J.R.R Tolkien’s influence on Game of Thrones story

George R.

The creative genius behind The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson surprised fans when he shared his favorite film from the epic saga. It wasn’t the grand finale or the celebrated start of the journey that captured his heart, but one that didn’t always sit at the top of fan rankings.

Peter Jackson and the Lord of the Rings cast | Credits: New Line Cinema

Despite its mixed reception compared to the others, this installment held a special place for Jackson, stirring deep emotions and leaving quite an impact.

Peter Jackson’s emotional pick: Why The Return of the King stood out Peter Jackson in The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee | Credit: Canal Cat Films

Peter Jackson didn’t mince words when he declared The Return of the King his favorite film from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Surprisingly, it’s also the one fans were least thrilled about,...

At next month’s European Film Market in Berlin, the first footage will be shown to buyers from medieval fantasy epic “The Stolen Child.” Variety spoke to the writer-director Sebastian McKinnon about the film, whose international rights are being represented by Picture Tree Intl. The film’s trailer debuts below.

The synopsis for “The Stolen Child” is as follows: “In an age where Humans and Faeries coexist, tragedy strikes the Human Realm when its King and Queen meet an untimely death. Their young son, now the sole heir, faces the daunting task of ruling a kingdom teetering on the edge of collapse. Overwhelmed by grief and fear, the child’s plight moves the Faerie Queen, who compassionately spirits him away to the Faerie State, to preserve his innocence. Yet, this well-meaning act unwittingly deepens the crisis in the Human Realm.

“As the balance between the two worlds crumbles, a unique...

Peter Jackson undeniably did an impressive job adapting J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel The Lord of the Rings. The film is hailed as one of the most faithful adaptations of the book. However, it’s also important to recognize that even the best adaptations can miss critical details.

Peter Jackson and the Lord of the Rings cast | Credit: New Line Cinema

Although it is pretty common for a movie to miss some chunks of details and scenes while adapting a book it is acceptable to deal with it as long as it is faithful. Jackson also missed a few important details while adapting the book.

For instance, in The Fellowship of the Ring, Sting is the only sword that glows blue when Orcs are near. While this trait is showcased in the first half of the movie, it inexplicably vanishes in later scenes. This inconsistency is a hot topic among sharp-eyed fans.

Turns out, we’ve been cheering for the wrong heroes in The Lord of the Rings all along. Sure Frodo and Aragorn stole the ultimate limelight, J.R.R. Tolkien himself pointed to a less glam, but far more heroic, character.

Elijah Wood in Lord of the Rings | Credits: New Line Cinema

Tolkien’s revelation broke the mold on who truly deserved the very title. The quiet endurance of this unsung figure didn’t just support the Fellowship; it saved the day.

Samwise Gamgee: The unsung hero J.R.R. Tolkien always knew deserved the spotlight J.R.R. Tolkien | Credits: YouTube/@BBC Global

Folks, we’ve all been watching The Lord of the Rings with the wrong hero in mind. J.R.R. Tolkien had a different champ – Samwise Gamgee. Tolkien, who served in the British military during World War I, based Sam on a figure he deeply admired: his batmen.

Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings movies are some of the most revered films ever made. Even now, over two decades after release, they remain culturally relevant, and the gold-standard by which all fantasy movies are compared. All these years later, director Peter Jackson has finally named which movie of the trilogy he's most proud of...and his choice will probably surprise you!

Speaking to Letterboxd, Jackson explained that he has a tough time watching his own films. "I can’t watch my own films. I mean, one day… I sort of enjoy it more as more time goes by, so one day I’ll watch them again," he said. As for what his favorite movie in the trilogy is, it's surprisingly The Two Towers, the middle movement of the trilogy, but his answer is far from set in stone. "The Two Towers, I think. But if I...

Lord of the Rings is one of the most beloved franchises in the world.

Originally conceived as a fantasy novel by J. R. R. Tolkien, the story began as a sequel to his 1937 children’s book The Hobbit.

The story follows a hobbit named Frodo who inherits the One Ring, which can destroy the entire world. As the reawakened evil Sauron goes after the Ring to secure his reign, Frodo teams up with eight others to destroy the Ring and defeat Sauron.

Originally intended to be a single volume, the work was published in three parts: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. It’s now one of best-selling books ever written, with over 150 million copies sold, leading to music, films, television, video games, and board games.

Over the years, the movies and TV shows have garnered significant acclaim among critics and fans alike.

One does not simply pick their favorite Lord of the Rings movie. Oh, we do? Well, Peter Jackson does, too, giving his definitive pick that will no doubt divide Lord of the Rings fans. No, it’s not Ralph Bakshi’s movie, but instead The Two Towers.

Speaking with Letterboxd, Peter Jackson said that as of now, his favorite movie of the Lord of the Rings saga is the second installment. “The Two Towers, I think. But if I see them again I might have a totally different one.” But Jackson was careful to note that he’s not just sitting around his hobbit-hole watching his own flicks, adding, “I can’t watch my own films. I just, I mean, one day…I sort of enjoy it more as more time goes by, so one day I’ll watch them again. I hope you enjoy ’em!” If only he could shake them from his memory…...

J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is one of the most compelling fantasy book series ever written, and his expansive world-building throughout the saga is truly inspiring. Several modern fantasies are influenced by his incredible work, and it's no surprise his Lord of The Rings novels also became critically acclaimed movies. Tolkien's books focus on many fantastical creatures and races, but one population in particular is especially unique compared to the rest.

Tolkien's Hobbits are one of his more original creations, and their distinctive qualities make them easily recognizable compared to others. While they have many interesting traits, the Hobbits are known for walking around barefoot, with no need for shoes or protection — making Hobbits' feet a hot topic of discussion. Thankfully, Tolkien does briefly touch on their origins, and based on his books, it's likely Hobbits' feet were an evolutionary adaptation of Men.

The Hobbits' Hairy Feet In...

The 10 strongest Dwarves in The Lord of the Rings are some of fantasy's best heroes. Dwarves are one of the many species invented by high fantasy master J.R.R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings, the masterpiece published in three parts between 1954 and 1955. They were adapted by Peter Jackson in his famous Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies, with each movie adapting a part of the novel. From part one of the novel and Jackson's first movie, The Fellowship of the Ring, Gimli, son of Glóin, gave the Dwarves a strong presence in the story.

But Gimli is just the best-known Dwarf of heroic stature in The Lord of the Rings, with plenty of others spread across the legendarium. Tolkien's first LotR release was actually based on Dwarves, that being The Hobbit, published in 1937. The hardy Dwarves only grew in lore and legend from there on out, coming to...

The Lord of the Rings gets a Christmas twist in a new music video, which features Gollum attempting to secure his Precious during the holiday season. Based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson first brought the world of Middle-earth to life in 2001, with his trilogy ultimately concluding in 2003. Gollum plays a large role in the second and third films, leading Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) through Mordor to Mount Doom, though he eventually gives in to his desire for the One Ring.

Brendan Dalton now puts Gollum front and center in a new Lord of the Rings music video called "Gollum's Christmas." The video, which is presented in claymation, features Gollum enjoying a very Merry Christmas with the One Ring, often appearing alongside Frodo and Sam in a version of Middle-earth that's been decked out for the holidays. Just because it's Christmas, though, doesn't mean Gollum is being any less mischievous.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is the latest entry in the celebrated and hugely popular Lord of the Rings series of films, and it tells the story of Helm Hammerhand defending the kingdom of Rohan from an army of Dunlendings. War of the Rohirrim reviews were split, though there weren't many ardent defenders of the film, as its box office failings became apparent throughout its first weekend in theaters. Personally, I think the film is solid enough, but its release does have me worried about the upcoming plans for the Lord of the Rings franchise.

Since the rights to The Lord of the Rings franchise were sold a few years ago, the number of releases in the series has been steadily increasing, from video games, to TV shows, with an influx of new feature films that are set to be released, and unfortunately, War of...

I've been watching and loving "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy for the past 20 years. Growing up alongside these films, I've always wondered what it would be like to travel to New Zealand and see the filming locations of Middle-earth with my own eyes. This November, after saving up for years, my long-awaited dream finally came true. During a two-week tour with incredibly friendly and expert guides Julie James and Josh Roach from Red Carpet Tours and a fellowship of over thirty passionate fans, we went across the entire country, gaining exclusive access to private lands, insider insights into the making of the films, and even reenacting our favorite scenes with props in the very same spots where filming occurred.

I saw firsthand how the locations perfectly embody J.R.R. Tolkien's vision of Middle-earth. New Zealand, with its lush forests, snowy glaciers, rolling hills, and sprawling mountains, is breathtaking — a...

Denis Villeneuve's Dune movies are unbelievable, but the Lord of the Rings franchise beat them to the punch on one crucial storytelling aspect. These two major franchises can be distinguished for their unique capability of combining blockbuster entertainment with cinematic excellence, bringing arguably the greatest works of fantasy and science fiction literature to life in the most authentic way possible. The Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movies and the Villeneuve Dune movies are the undisputed, definitive adaptations of two iconic stories.

J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books were released between 1954 and 1955, with Frank Herbert's prolific Dune novel being released just a decade later in 1965. Despite their similarly epic scope and genre-defining world-building, these novels have great differences thematically. In fact, Tolkien allegedly disliked Herbert's book despite its widespread acclaim. However, there's a major component of Tolkien's story that exists in Dune, and it's not...

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has set a surprising box office record, and it continues a trend that's worrisome for the franchise's future. War of the Rohirrim is Warner Bros.' first Lotr movie to hit theaters since The Hobbit trilogy's conclusion a decade ago. The film adapts characters and events only briefly touched on in J.R.R. Tolkien's appendices, and it does so in an animated format. Such elements make it a risky endeavor, and that shows in The War of the Rohirrim's mixed reception and underwhelming opening weekend.

The War of the Rohirrim set a new box office low for Peter Jackson's universe, with its opening weekend bringing in an estimated $5 million (via Deadline). This is the lowest opening since The Fellowship of the Ring debuted in 2001, accumulating $47.2 million. Given The War of the Rohirrim's $30 million budget, its performance doesn't look great...

At the 74th Academy Awards, held to honor the films of 2001, Peter Jackson's fantasy epic "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" was nominated for a whopping 13 awards, including Best Picture. It ultimately won four Oscars, signaling that fantasy films were now considered major prestige fare; traditionally, the Oscars have been drawn to biographies, histories, and dramas of a personal nature. For the purposes of this article, I will remind readers that "Fellowship" lost its award for Best Original Song to "If I Didn't Have You" from "Monsters, Inc." The "Fellowship" song was a wispy, dream folk-like lullaby called "May It Be," written by Nicky Ryan, Roma Ryan, and noted dream-rock chanteuse Enya. 

The televised Oscar ceremony that year was hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, and she brought the right balance of reverence and irreverence to the evening. The show was directed by Louis J. Horovitz and sported 18 credited writers,...

Of the movies adapting J.R.R. Tolkien's epic The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books, not all are considered equals. Released in 1937 to immediate popularity, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit introduced Middle-earth - the literary fantasy realm to rule them all. In 1954, Tolkien began expanding his mythology with The Fellowship of the Ring - the first part of his Lord of the Rings trilogy, finding even greater acclaim and enshrining the series as a culturally defining body of work.

The Lord of the Rings has enraptured one generation after another for almost a century, but compared to most timeless novels, relatively few attempts have been made to translate Middle-earth onto the silver screen. Filmmakers struggled to conceptualize the sheer scale of Tolkien's words onscreen, and even The Beatles - as high as they were - ultimately decided against filming a live-action Lord of the Rings. Though a...

Update: 2024/12/15 07:48 Est By Brennan Klein

Kraven The Hunter's Projections Slide $1 Million Lower Than Saturday Estimates

This article was originally written Saturday Am and has been updated Sunday Am with up-to-date box office projections (in bold), a full chart, and further analysis.

Kraven the Hunter has hit a record franchise low in its opening weekend. The J. C. Chandor-directed movie, which follows a hunter who uses his bond with animals to help get revenge on his criminal father, is the latest installment in Sony's Spider-Man Universe, which includes the commercially successful Venom trilogy as well as the critical and commercial flops Morbius and Madame Web. The Kraven the Hunter cast includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola, Christopher Abbott, and Russell Crowe.

Per Variety, as of Sunday morning, Kraven the Hunter is projected to close out its opening weekend with a 3-day domestic gross of $11 million.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has broken a box office record for the Peter Jackson-produced movie franchise during its opening weekend. The new movie is the first animated feature in the Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings franchise, which adapts the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and kicked off in 2001 with the first of the Lotr trilogy and now includes the Hobbit movie trilogy as well as the upcoming The Hunt for Gollum. Rohirrim takes place nearly two centuries before the events of Lotr, following the exploits of one of the kings of Rohan.

Per Deadline, as of Saturday morning, the Kenji Kamiyama-directed The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is projected to earn a 3-day opening weekend of $5 million, debuting at No. 5 at the domestic box office. This is a dramatic step down from the live-action installments in the Peter Jackson franchise,...

When I think of the new animated movie “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” I think of the words of the legendary public speaker Bilbo Baggins, who probably would have described it like this: “I like half of it half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of it half as well as it deserves.”

Mr. Baggins was a harsh critic, but he knew how to turn a phrase. His famous quote from “The Fellowship of the Ring” cleverly articulates that something isn’t very good while simultaneously allowing that some of it may be okay, and you’re just too annoyed to care. “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” is an underwhelming production with hit-and-miss animation (mostly miss) and largely generic performances, and yet it’s not a complete washout.

“The War of the Rohirrim” is...

Brian Cox is once again criticizing his “Succession” co-star Jeremy Strong and his method acting.

Cox previously described his onscreen son’s method acting as “fucking annoying,” but in his new interview with The Guardian, he gives a slightly softer take. However, the 78-year-old Scotsman still thinks Strong would be a better actor if he “just got rid” of the practice altogether.

“He was wonderful to act with. I had no argument with Jeremy’s acting,” Cox said. “He would be an even better actor if he just got rid of that so there would be much more inclusiveness in what he did.”

Cox went on to say that when a fellow cast member is in character all the time, “it’s not good for the ensemble. It creates hostility.” Despite his feelings, Cox never discussed it with Strong “in the way [he] would like to have talked to him,” adding...

The Lord of the Rings franchise will cross an impressive milestone at the box office with the upcoming film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. Seven films have been released in The Lord of the Rings franchise, including the 1978 animated movie. However, the animated Lord of the Rings film only grossed $30 million at the box office, so the movie franchise can truly be considered a success starting with 2001's The Fellowship of the Ring. Peter Jackson's original Lord of the Rings trilogy was a worldwide phenomenon and changed Hollywood forever.

Years after The Lord of the Rings trilogy concluded with 2003's Return of the King, Jackson made three Hobbit movies, which were less critically acclaimed but still successful at the box office. Now, the world of Middle Earth will once again be presented in animated form in the upcoming Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

Viggo Mortensen has been approached for 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt For Gollum'.The 66-year-old actor starred as Aragorn in the iconic film adaptations of J.R.R Tolkien's fantasy epics in the early 2000s, and the character is expected to play a key role in the upcoming live action film directed by Andy Serkis.Writer Philippa Boyens - who is working on the movie with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh - told The Playlist: "The Hunt for Gollum’ is set during ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ era, shortly before Frodo Baggins leaves the Shire for Rivendell."And it begins with Gandalf sending Aragorn on a quest to find Gollum, who the wizard fears may reveal information about the One Ring to Sauron, so Viggo Mortensen’s appearance is crucial. But will he return?“Honestly, that’s entirely going to be up to Viggo, collaboratively and we are at a very early stage.

Viggo Mortensen played Aragorn to perfection in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, but can he be convinced to return for The Hunt for Gollum? The upcoming movie does feature a prominent role for Aragorn, and Philippa Boyens, who wrote the trilogy alongside Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson, told The Playlist that they really want the actor to come back.

“Honestly, that’s entirely going to be up to Viggo, collaboratively and we are at a very early stage,” she said. “I’ve spoken to Viggo, Andy [Serkis] has spoken to him, Peter [Jackson] has spoken to him, we’ve all spoken to each other and honestly, I cannot imagine anyone else playing Aragorn, but it will be completely and entirely up to Viggo.“

As The Hunt for Gollum takes place during the same time period as The Fellowship of the Ring, some digital trickery would likely be employed...

According to Lord of the Rings trilogy co-writer Philippa Boyens, Viggo Mortensen has been asked about returning as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Though Peter Jackson directed the acclaimed trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved fantasy novels, Boyens and Fran Walsh were crucial to making the movies happen, and the trio now comprises the brain trust responsible for the franchise's future. The next Middle-earth project they oversee with be Andy Serkis' The Hunt for Gollum, a film that takes place during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring.

During a recent interview with The Playlist to promote the release of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, on which she is a producer, Boyens reveals new details about The Hunt for Gollum and Aragorn's role. According to Boyens, Aragorn plays a significant part in the story, and conversations have...

Excitement is building in the ‘Lord of the Rings‘ world, not just because of the ‘The Rings of Power‘ series on Prime Video or the animated ‘The War of the Rohirrim.’

The buzz is really about ‘The Hunt for Gollum,’ a live-action film currently in the planning stages.

‘The Hunt for Gollum’ could see the return of Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, but his involvement hinges on a few critical factors.

In an interview with The Playlist, Philippa Boyens, a key figure in the ‘Lotr’ franchise’s creative team, shared some intriguing details about the film.

It’s set right after Bilbo’s grand 111th birthday and just before the harrowing journey through the Mines of Moria, positioning it alongside the events of ‘The Fellowship of the Ring.’

The story kicks off with Gandalf sending Aragorn on a mission to track down Gollum, who possesses dangerous knowledge about the One Ring.

Taylor Swift and Joe Rogan are the Spotify MVPs this year: The service has announced its annual year-end Spotify Wrapped Lists of top streaming artists and podcasts.

Swift, of course, ranked No. 1 as the year’s most-streamed artist globally on Spotify, her second consecutive year to take the honor. Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department was the most-streamed album of the year on Spotify. Coming in at No. 2 was The Weeknd.

2024 Spotify Wrapped: Global Top Lists

Most-Streamed Artists Globally

Taylor Swift

The Weeknd

Bad Bunny

Drake

Billie Eilish

Travis Scott

Peso Pluma

Kanye West

Ariana Grande

Feid

In all, Swift’s music generated more than 26.6 billion streams on the platform in 2024. Tortured Poets also became the first album to top 300 million streams in one day and more than 1 billion in the first week of release.

Some other Spotify 2024 music rankings:

Most-Streamed Songs Globally

“Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter

“Beautiful Things” by...

Spotify Wrapped is finally here – and we have the info on 2024′s biggest artists!

This year, Taylor Swift was awarded the most streamed artist both globally and in the US! Taylor‘s “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” was also the most streamed album both globally and in the US.

The most streamed song globally and in the US was “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter.

Keep reading to find out more…

Scroll down to see the top 10 lists from Spotify…

Most-Streamed Artists Globally

1. Taylor Swift

2. The Weeknd

3. Bad Bunny

4. Drake

5. Billie Eilish

6. Travis Scott

7. Peso Pluma

8. Kanye West

9. Ariana Grande

10. Feid

Most-Streamed Songs Globally

1. “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter

2. “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone

3. “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish

4. “Gata Only” by FloyyMenor, Cris Mj

5. “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims

6. “End of Beginning” by Djo

7. “Too Sweet” by Hozier

8. “One of the Girls” by The Weeknd with Jennie, Lily Rose Depp...

Taylor Swift was the most streamed artist globally on Spotify in 2024, while Joe Rogan and Alex Cooper topped the platform’s podcast charts.

This is the fifth consecutive year The Joe Rogan Experience has been the top podcast on Spotify and comes after he interviewed former President Donald Trump on his show leading up to the election. Cooper, who hosts Call Her Daddy, interviewed Vice President Kamala Harris on her show and took the second place slot for the second year in a row.

Notably, the two podcasts still topped the list after Spotify ceded exclusivity of both titles. The top five podcasts globally also included Huberman Lab and This Past Weekend w/Theo Von in the third and fourth spots and The Diary of A CEO with Steven Bartlett, a British video podcast, in the fifth spot.

While the top four are well-known titles, Jordan Newman, Spotify’s head of content partnerships,...

One of Tolkien's more divisive Lord of the Rings movie adaptations is finally coming to streaming, and this couldn't have happened at a better time for the franchise. The legendary fantasy author's Middle-earth works have been beloved since The Hobbit was released in 1937, but these stories have come a long way in the near century. Tolkien expanded his works through several novels and posthumously published notes, and Hollywood has since kept these stories going with movie and TV adaptations—and more are on the way. This makes a look back at a divisive 1978 adaptation all the more meaningful.

Filmmaker Ralph Bakshi released the animated The Lord of the Rings movie in 1978, which adapted a handful of stories from Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. It's a unique combination of cel animation and rotoscope technology. Though the film demonstrated animation mastery of the day, it was divisive...

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is successfully spinning many plates with its multiple arcs, but one Sauron-Galadriel storyline still requires major growth, which season 3 could materialize. Rings of Power season 1 received criticism for the kind of mystery box writing normally associated with J.J. Abrams, rather than high fantasy, teasing Sauron's true identity over a whole season. With Halbrand revealed as Sauron, season 2 kept up the mystery teasing, slowly deciphering the identity of the Stranger. He was unveiled as Gandalf in season 2, but a key Sauron arc still has not yet come full circle.

Rings of Power season 3 has lots of loose threads to tie up to get the show where it needs to be by its final season. Amazon Prime Video's show was pitched as a five-season deep dive into the story covered by the first five minutes of Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring.

The importance of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim's box office success has become even more vital for the franchise. Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings adaptations of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King were all critical and commercial hits following their respective releases from 2001-2003. This included the movies becoming one of the most lucrative and highest-grossing series in cinematic history. While not as acclaimed, The Hobbit movie trilogy proved to be a box office success as well.

A decade after the theatrical debut of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the upcoming release of The War of the Rohirrim marks several firsts for the franchise. Instead of being live-action like The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, The War of the Rohirrim is an anime movie. It also is not...

J.R.R. Tolkien is known as the father of the Lord of the Rings series. His books are beloved, and have notably been adapted into one of the most renowned fantasy movie trilogies of all time. Consisting of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings trilogy captured both viewers and critics, as the series was nominated for copious Oscars. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won an astounding 11 Oscars, including Best Picture. Tolkien's The Hobbit was also adapted into its own trilogy.

The popularity of the Tolkien adaptation has been maintained through the release of the TV series The Rings of Power, which has had two seasons on Prime Video thus far. This year will also see the release of a different kind of Lord of the Rings movie with the animated film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim...

With Jon M Chu’s toe-tapping Wicked film in cinemas now, why is its two-part status getting us all riled up?

It’s all Peter Jackson’s fault, really.

When folks complain about Hollywood’s relatively new obsession with cutting films in half, few seem to be talking about the New Zealand director’s The Lord Of The Rings trilogy – if only because the narrative hack-job was done more than 40 years before production started. Jrr Tolkien apparently wasn’t best pleased when his publisher insisted on chopping his fantasy epic into some more manageable chunks – by the time New Line was in the mood to put Frodo’s story on-camera, he wasn’t best-placed to complain (he’d died in 1974).

But by the time Return Of The King swept to awards and box office glory in 2004, no one seemed to mind that a single, continuous story had been sold to...

When it's not getting review bombed by angry fans, IMDb is a fountain of filmic knowledge that has all the answers. Besides being the solution to every movie section at Trivia Night, the Internet Movie Database also has a list of the top 250 films of all time, as decided by Hollywood's toughest judges -- the general audience. It's a ranking that is crammed with unquestionably brilliant films, but it's also a pretty big pile to get through. 240 of these popular picks are all well and good, but let's not kid ourselves. It's the top 10 on the list that are what we always want to get to.

IMDb's top 10 consist of some absolutely essential viewings not just for die-hard cinephiles, but anyone that is in the mood to sit down for a certified banger that hasn't lost its touch. With the youngest entrant on the list being just over a decade old,...

The high Elf king Celeborn is a notable figure in J. R. R. Tolkien's Legendarium; but despite his stature, he only appeared briefly in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and has yet to appear at all in Amazon's The Rings of Power. One of the wisest Elves to have ever lived, the Lord of the Wood Elf kingdom of Lothlrien, and husband to Galadriel, Celeborn is one of the most powerful figures in Tolkien's universe. He's been present at nearly all the major events to take place in Arda, or the Earth, as it is known in Tolkien's stories.

In the premiere of The Rings of Power, the shadow of Morgoth is briefly seen as the Valar descends upon the Two Trees, one of the few times the First Age of the Legendarium is referenced in the TV show. Celeborn was a grown Elf all the way...

Middle-earth cinema is abuzz with projects at the moment — including multiple new additions to Peter Jackson's adaptive take on J.R.R. Tolkien's world. The resurrection of Jackson's work a decade after the release of his "Hobbit" trilogy and two decades after his "Lord of the Rings" movies premiered has led to a flood of questions about what actors could return to reprise their roles on the silver screen. Actor Miranda Otto is already narrating as Éwoyn in the anime film "The War of the Rohirrim," while Ian McKellen has also hinted that he is in talks to return in a future project as Gandalf. Other potential returning players include Orlando Bloom as Legolas, Elijah Wood as Frodo, Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, and now John Rhys-Davies as Gimli.

Davies voiced his willingness to return in a recent interview, clarifying that he didn't come back for the "Hobbit" films because...

The Stormlight Archive is a series I'm dying to see adapted onto screen, and there are a number of specific things I'd want in the TV series or film. Author Brandon Sanderson has long been discussing the prospect of having his Cosmere book universe developed into a live-action film/TV universe, and while none of his stories are currently being produced by Hollywood, it seems like it's only a matter of time, given their ever-growing popularity. A Mistborn movie adaptation has been discussed for quite some time, and The Stormlight Archive would likely be the next project to follow suit.

When adapting a series as massive and sprawling as The Stormlight Archive, there are numerous factors at play. My ideas and wishlist items won't just be the elements of my dream show; they're a collection of thoughts based on previously developed fantasy movies and shows that I either like or don't like.

The Lord of the Rings movies conclude with Frodo leaving for the Undying Lands, and an early scene from The Fellowship of the Ring teases this outcome long before it happens. The ending of Peter Jackson's film trilogy matches that of J.R.R. Tolkien's books, and it fits well with the burden Frodo carries throughout the narrative. Frodo's decision to go to Valinor makes a lot of sense after everything he goes through, and it teases the possibility of him finally finding some much-deserved peace.

Frodo's ending in The Lord of the Rings is even less surprising after one Fellowship of the Ring moment, which subtly foreshadows his fate. Frodo may not realize he'll end up sailing to Valinor at this point of the story in fact, this scene takes place before he even agrees to bring the One Ring to Mordor. However, Jackson's first Lord of the Rings...

As Bilbo Baggins once observed, "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door and making an original series for Netflix." The clear winner of the streaming wars has only continued to tighten its purse strings in its ongoing bid to become more profitable in 2024, cutting off shows like Charlie Covell's clever ancient mythology re-imagining "Kaos" at the knees before they've barely had a chance to find their audience. Even once-unstoppable Netflix juggernauts like "The Witcher" and "Stranger Things" are in the midst of either wrapping things up or preparing for the end, having gotten too pricey for their britches.

It's probably for the best, then, that "Squid Game" creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is charging full speed ahead on the show's third and final season ahead of season 2 premiering this winter. Netflix surprise-announced that season 3 of Hwang's death game series was even happening back in the summer, with the creative...

While Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy remains a landmark cinematic achievement, one issue with the film series was solved by an adaptation that preceded it by 20 years. In 1978, legendary animator Ralph Bakshi made a film adapting most of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, and the following surge of popularity for the books led the BBC to produce Lotr as a radio play, a popular format at the time. Little did the BBC know that their 1981 production would remain one of the best adaptations of the books over 40 years later.

Coming in at 26 episodes and a total runtime of 13 hours, the BBC Radio 4 The Lord of the Rings is a painstakingly crafted adaptation of the source material with a phenomenal cast. While the 2000s film trilogy by Peter Jackson is generally considered the greatest realization of the books on film, they still couldn't fit every aspect in,...