Dark Servants of Shadow Update Complete!
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

Finally we have completed our updates to the
Dark Servants of Shadow section.

As you may have noticed in the last months we have been making a series of updates to our Dark Servants of Shadow. We are now done!

We updated all of the original Dark Servants of Shadow, finishing with Shelob, and also added 6 new Dark Servants! The Dead, Crebain, Siege Beasts, Werewolves, Gothmog and last but not least we have placed Bill Ferny back on the list...and we will be creating those new pages for them in the coming months.

Over all we added or updated a Dark History for each of these evil characters, updated the Flash animation and content, adding a volume contol and made plain it's Tolkien Canon status. But now our work is done!

Many of you have felt that we have neglected the Dark Domains section... but fear not! We have not forgotten! Tomorrow we will premiere an all new Dark Domains Menu which will feature updated graphics and 4 new Dark locations in Middle-earth. So check in this weekend for the update!

Lay your staff ~HERE~

Beowulf Created with Performance Capture...
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

Quint at AintItCool.com brings us a first look inside the offices of Robert Zemeckis' BEOWULF!!!

In 2007 Robert Zemeckis is releasing his next film, an adaptation of BEOWULF that was scripted by Roger Avary and Neil Gaiman. The cast includes Crispin Glover as the monstrous Grendel (the first time Glover has reteamed with Zemeckis since all that bad blood surrounding BACK TO THE FUTURE 2), Ray Winstone as Beowulf, Angelina Jolie as the demonic mother of Grendel, Anthony Hopkins as the King being tormented by Grendel. Also in the cast is Brendan Gleeson, Alison Lohman, John Malkovich and Robin Wright Penn.
There has been some concerned discussion about this film online since it was announced. People are worried it will be watered down or kiddie friendly because of Zemeckis choosing to make this story using the process he calls Performance Capture, which he used recently on the kid's book turned holiday family film POLAR EXPRESS. I'd be lying if I said I was a little disappointed that he wasn't filming it live-action as I've always wanted to see this story done balls to the wall in flesh and blood on the big screen.

In the concept art, Grendel seems to stand about 15 feet tall and is almost completely hairless. His arms and legs are long, ending in arthritic looking knuckled hands and feet. He looks bent and awkward, his body covered in tumorous lumps. His skin is gangrene green and covered in sores and splotches. His teeth are crooked, broken and protruding from his maw. More...

Lay your staff ~HERE~ and See the Official site ~HERE~

Lord of the Rings Online... The Ettenmoors
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

Welcome to the first of many Developer Diary installments discussing monster play. We’ve kept the wraps on this aspect of the production for long enough, so here’s your first look behind the curtain at the geography of your monster playground!

In the north, flowing out of the Misty Mountains, is the Hoarwell River. The great river flows toward the south, becoming impassable until the Last Bridge at the border of the Lone-lands and the Trollshaws. It is rumored that Fallohide Hobbits may once have migrated along the shores of the Hoarwell River, perhaps even making themselves a home along its banks as they journeyed west across the Misty Mountains.

In the Northwest, a terrible peak rises to cast its great shadow far to the east. This mountain, once home to the goblin Golfimbul, is known as Mount Gram and at its foot, the fearsome forces of Angmar have laid claim to the land... MORE...

Lay your staff ~HERE~

Shelob Cometh at Last to Mordor...
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

Updates to the Dark Servants of Shadow... Shelob!

In our continuing updates to our Dark Servants of Shadow, we now have added Shelob...

She was there, who was there before Sauron, before the first stone of Barad Dur; and she served none but herself, drinking the blood of Elves and Men, bloated and grown fat with endless broodings on her feasts, weaving webs of shadow; for all living things were her food, and her vomit darkness. None could rival her, Shelob the Great, last child of Ungoliant to trouble the unhappy world.

Lay your staff ~HERE~

Lord of the Rings RPG "on hold"
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

EA confirms rumors that it has stopped work on the White Council and that the publisher is mulling over what to do with the film license.

TThe year began with unconfirmed rumors that The Lord of the Rings: The White Council had been canceled. The open-world role-playing game, which had been unveiled last summer, was slated for a holiday 2007 release on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. It was to be the latest game from Electronic Arts based on Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings film trilogy, which was inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's best-selling fantasy novels.

Today, during a postearnings call, EA CFO Warren Jenson confirmed that The White Council is not canceled--but that work on it has been indefinitely suspended. "The Lord of the Rings product is back in development in terms of being on hold," he cryptically told an analyst who asked whether or not the game had been canceled outright.

But while EA hasn't pulled the plug on The White Council, its prognosis is not good. Jenson said that the game will not be released during the publisher's next financial year, which ends on March 31, 2008. He also announced that EA is "looking at the creative positioning and feature set on the Lord of the Rings franchise," but did not elaborate.

Lay your staff ~HERE~

John Howe... King of the Castle
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

LORD OF THE CASTLE... Or Every Screen Has a Silver Lining

I've always wanted to be king of a castle. Admittedly, it's not a popular category in the "Help Wanted" section, and such opportunities are limited. So, when Cerigo Films came with the idea of a short documentary on Leo Schnug and the castle of Haut-Koeningsbourg, I thought well, this is about as close as I'm likely ever to get.. MORE...

Lay your staff ~HERE~

The Crack of Doom Diorama...
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

Now a Preview at Sideshow Collectibles!

Sideshow Collectibles is now Premiering the first in it's all new Lord of the Rings Diorama line! The very first is Frodo and Gollum at the Crack Of Doom! The dynamic struggle for the ring between Frodo and Gollum has been captured in Polystone, and collectors can soon add this limited piece to their collections!

This is a MUST HAVE! Check out the cool preview video...

Lay your staff on the Banner above!

Beowulf is Coming this Fall...
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

The epic story Beowulf is coming to the bigscreen! Lay your staff on the links below to get to the official website!

This fall Robert Zemeckis is releasing his next film, an adaptation of BEOWULF that was scripted by Roger Avary and Neil Gaiman. The cast includes Crispin Glover as the monstrous Grendel, Ray Winstone as Beowulf, Angelina Jolie as the demonic mother of Grendel, Anthony Hopkins as the King being tormented by Grendel. Also in the cast is Brendan Gleeson, Alison Lohman, John Malkovich and Robin Wright Penn.

As we get more details we will let you know!

Lay your staff ~HERE~

Lord of the Rings Online Updates...
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

Take a look at the updated LOTR, SOA website and Explore the Midgewater Pass...

While the easiest passage from Bree-land into the Lone-lands and Trollshaws is to follow the Great East Road below the Midgewater Marshes, it is not the only way through the hills. There are some paths known to few save the Rangers of the North, and one of these passes through the Marshes themselves. At the northeastern corner of the Midgewater Marshes, a pass leads up out of the bogs and through the hills beyond. From the peak of the Midgewater Pass, the great hill of Amon Sûl, known commonly as Weathertop, may be seen in the distance.. MORE...

Lay your staff ~HERE~

Servants of Shadow Update... Trolls!
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

Updates to the Dark Servants of Shadow... Trolls of Middle-earth... since it's a major update, it gets a Mordor Premiere!

In our continuing updates to our Dark Servants of Shadow, we now have updated the Trolls pages with a major update to the animated intro...

The cave-trolls of Moria were of huge size with a skin of dark green scales, and flat, toeless feet. The fact that Gandalf was able to recognise the creature he encountered in Moria specifically as a cave-troll strongly suggests that this appearance was shared by others of the kind.

Lay your staff ~HERE~

Sideshow Announces a New LOTR Line!
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

Important New announcement from Sideshow Products!

We’re proud to announce that our The Lord of the Rings product range is expanding!

Next week, you’ll get your first glimpse at the newest LOTR collectible series; The Lord of the Rings Diorama line. Many of the designs for these dioramas have been drawn from the most dynamic and dramatic confrontations in the films, although not all will be so conflict-oriented.

Lay your staff

Will the Hobbit Ever Happen...?
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

We have a complied a list of links to all the latest news and notes on all the Hollywood Hobbit drama...

A letter from Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh to TheOneRing.net
Lay your staff ~HERE~

Newline Slams Peter Jackson.
Lay your staff ~HERE~

Peter Jackson responds to Newline..
Lay your staff ~HERE~

Sam Raimi considers directing
'The Hobbit'
Lay your staff ~HERE~

As we get more info on this we will update our links!

A Hobbit Fans Obsession...
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

One man with high hopes for the Hobbit!

THE LAST WALK OF DANIEL MARQUEZ 2007... now this is what I call dedication... this man is hoping for his chance!

THIS YEAR I EXPECT TO GROW WITH MANY THINGS AND STILL HAVING THIS DREAM AND NEVER GIVE UP. IN THE FAN OBSESSION 2, I PLAY THE ROLE OF BILBO AGAIN AND YOU CAN SEE NEW SCENES LIKE GOBLINS CAVE, THORIN PALACE, MIRKWOOD, THE 1000 CORPS BATTLE AND OTHERS.
Lay your staff ~HERE~

Servants of Shadow Update... Witch King
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

Updates to the Dark Servants of Shadow... Witch King

In our continuing updates to our Dark Servants of Shadow, we now have updated the Witch King pages...

In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl. A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen came a deadly laughter.

Lay your staff ~HERE~

John Howe Talks Swords...
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

While it's clear that swords are nasty sharp pointy things designed exclusively for poking holes in people when it's not lopping bits off them, they are nonetheless an intergral part of our cultural heritage. I don't consider myself an expert on anything much, so I was quite surprised when a company called Galatia Films [http://www.galatiafilms.com] got in touch and asked if I would do a little filmed interview for a production called "Reclaiming the Blade".

"Never!" I cried, "not even if you poke holes in me and lop bits off!"

I didn't really say that, I cautiously replied that it sounded very interesting and... MORE...

Lay your staff ~HERE~

In Memorium... Remembering our Friends..
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

A year ago today we lost our friends and our neighbors... it was our personal 9-11 right here on our block. There are four candles burning brightly on our front porch this morning and they will be burning all day long...

On a personal note I would like to remember Bryan, Kathy, Stella and Ruby who were stolen from us this very morning... one year ago today. Their lives were not taken in vain...

We will always miss you... and we will never forget.

Lay your staff ~HERE~

John Howe Rings in the New Year...
TheLandofShadow.com ~Ring Lord~

Any milestone is worth taking these days, even the ones we all ineluctably see pass by at the year's end and beginning. May 2007 be kind to us all.

THREE AND COUNTING...

Next year promises to be an especially busy one. I am putting the finishing touches on a new book, writing like mad and doing step-by-step imagery for another, and have begun a third book - text and images - to be delivered by the end of 2007. MORE...

Lay your staff ~HERE~