A recap of this past week's events

The big news this week concerns The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Home Video release on DVD and Blu-ray, so you can expect a lot on that. Also, both Asmus Toys and the Gentle Giant have new The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings figurines. Aside from these, there are still interviews, videos, and more!

A recap of this past week's events

Fan art, awesome stuff from Weta, movie awards, and art from the upcoming Lego The Hobbit video game have all been seen and discussed in the world of Tolkien fandom. If you have been wondering why I use the phrase 'world of Tolkien fandom' so much, it is because the works of J.R.R. Tolkien have on the largest fan bases in the world, with members spanning across continents. See what these thousands, and very possibly millions of people have been up to in the past week!

Another week has come and gone

without a single post from yours truly. Sorry about that. There has not really been much activity from my end at all for the past few weeks. I'll try to work up something interesting soon, but for now, you will have to content yourself with an overview of this past week's events. 

Happy New Year!

As always, lots of stuff has happened this past week, including the beginning of a new year! 2014 has tons of new prospects and things to wait for - such as The Hobbit: There and Back Again, scheduled to be released on December 17. There should be a trailer sometime in the next few months! Back to the present, there are interviews, essays, and much more Tolkien related stuff to post about!

So... A lot of stuff has happened this week

Most importantly the world-wide opening of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug! (A review is coming soon, so don't worry.) But that is certainly not all. Go beyond the break to check out the latest reviews, interviews, spoilers, and much, much more! 

So hard to keep up! Things are crazy just 10 days before the release of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smuag!

Tons and tons of stuff has happened and most assuredly is happening right now in the world of Tolkien and Peter Jackson fandom! Perhaps most exciting of all was the world premiere of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in Hollywood last night! Many of the cast and crew were able to attend (full list beyond the break), and I am sure it would have been amazing to attend, but it was also cool to watch it live on YouTube (or Facebook, as the case may be), like I did. To find out more about this and many other things, go beyond the break. 

Sorry to say, I have fallen a little behind in keeping up with The Hobbit news for the past few days,

And a lot of stuff has piled up, let me tell you. Instead of writing ten or possibly twenty different posts (yeah, it's that much), I will post all the little stuff beyond the break of this post. So you do not have to deal with infini-scrolling, there will be a lot of links. Why are you waiting? Go beyond the break to hear about all the new interviews, videos, pictures, and more!

Just in a the Weta Workshop!

Three awesome pieces have recently been added to the amazing selection of Hobbit props, replicas, and other such stuff sold by the Weta Workshop. Thror's Ring of Power, the Mirkwood Gaol Key, and the Elven Earrings all display expert craftsmanship (as usual) and would be great addition or start to any collection of Hobbitty stuff!

The Producers Guild of America has chosen Peter Jackson, Joe Letteri, and Weta Digital to receive the 2014 Vanguard Award! 

The awards will be presented on January 19, 2014, at the 25th annual Producers Guild Awards.The ceremony will take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. I don't know about you, but I sure think that they deserve it!

"Visual effects are a great tool to inspire the audience’s imagination and encourage them to take that extra step into the story."

- Peter Jackson

These have been a busy past few weeks for the Tolkien fandom, but it's not over yet!

Film Cells Ltd, Forbidden Planet, New Zealand Post, Weta Workshop, and Bridge Direct are all releasing or planning to release tons of new collectibles from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Details may be found beyond the break. 

Here is the latest hobbit hole created by the Weta Workshop

This piece is especially interesting because I had never heard of it before. Apparently, this hobbit hole is called 'Gandalf's Cutting' because it is nearest to where the wizard enters Hobbiton. It also appeared in the movie (An Unexpected Journey) with Everard Proudfoot sweeping the doorstep. 

The Hat of Gandalf the Grey and the Gates of Erebor Art Print

Here are the latest two products offered by the Weta Worskhop: a prop replica of Gandalf's pointy hat, and another fantastic art print featuring the Gates of Erebor. Each of these would greatly add to your collection of Middle-earth paraphernalia! 

Just in from the Weta Workshop!

Here is the second in the series of hobbit holes, 40 Bagshot Row. (I wonder what happened to numbers 2 - 39?) This environment is only 12in (4.7cm) long and 2.2in (5.5cm) wide, pretty small compared to similar pieces, but what this little hobbit hole lacks in size, it more than makes up in detail and stunning artwork. 

Cover images, gift sets, and more!

A few days ago Amazon.com added an exclusive Gift Set for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition. The set comes with 3D Blu-Ray, 2D, and appendices discs, and also with a special statue of Gollum and Bilbo from the Riddles in the Dark scene crafted by the folks at the Weta Workshop. You can see an image of the set beyond the break, along with three cover images and pricing details.  

Just in from the Weta Workshop - newly revealed at the San Deigo Comic Con

Here is the largest Azog on the market! At 1'5.7" (45cm) tall and 2'1.6" (65cm) long, this warg-riding figure is enourmous, weighing in at nearly 30 pounds. It is surprising that this statue is still in the same 1/6th scale the other Hobbit figures are, the warg itself being larger than some life-size dogs!

A peek into what was revealed at Comic Con

The Weta Workshop booth at the San Diego Comic Con 2013, along with a few others, more than filled up The Hobbit void caused by Peter Jackson unfortunately being too busy to attend this year. Their displays not only showed life-size statues and meticulously detailed environments, but also many new fine pieces of merchandise.  

Hobbit paraphernalia everywhere at the San Diego Comic Con 2013!

Although Peter Jackson was not able to spare himself or any of the actors from the hard work of finishing up the movies, many others have rushed in to fill the Hobbit gap! The Weta Workshop, Bridge Direct, Slideshow Collectibles, TheOneRing.net, and many others have booths displaying merchandise, statues, props, and other fantastic Hobbit items. I have selected a few images to show to you, which you will find beyond the break. 

The latest news concerning the Weta Workshop booth at Comic Con 2013

I am sure all you who are going to the San Diego Comic Con 2013 were disappointed that Peter Jackson will not be able to attend this year, but there will be plenty to make up for it! The Weta Workshop booth will be offering more Hobbit items than you can imagine, plus autographs from quite a few artists! 

The latest and greatest collectible from the Weta Workshop!

Here are Bilbo's Acorn Buttons! Made from pure zinc and just 2cm (0.8in) in diameter, these are exact replicas of the buttons that flew off Bilbo's waistcoat while he was squeezing through the crevice! These buttons are sure to brighten up any waistcoat you choose to put them on!

Just in from the Weta Workshop!

Here is the latest 1:6 scale figure from the Weta Workshop: Kili the Dwarf! With over 400 hours put into this statue's design and creation, this is a high-quality work of art that is a must-have! With only 1000 pieces produced world-wide, this 23.5cm (9.3in) tall figure is sure to go quickly.