It is true that our Hobbit heroes bow to no one, but we here at Nerdist must bow to the majesty that has been NZ Post’s collections of coins, stamps, and prints celebrating the various 20th anniversaries of The Lord of the Rings‘ three movies. It has truly been a journey of epic proportions as we went there and back again to The Fellowship of the Rings, The Two Towers, and now The Return of the King with creations that can be described as nothing short of precious artworks. But like all good journeys, there must be an ending to this quest, however bittersweet.

Before we sail west, though, NZ Post’s final The Lord of the Rings collection, celebrating The Return of the King is here to take our breath away one more time.

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Commemorative Stamps (Don’t Miss the Hidden Messages)

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King always makes me feel emotional. Has there ever been a finer ending to a trilogy? And somehow, NZ Post manages to encapsulate everything powerful and wonderful about the movie in six incredible stamp designs. This time around, we are treated to stamps that depict Arwen’s grief and fading time, Gandalf’s realization of the eagles’ arrival at the Battle at the Black Gate, Frodo’s fight against Shelob with the beautiful light of Eärendil gifted to him by Galadriel, Aragorn calling upon the Army of the Dead with Legolas and Gimli at his side, Eowyn defeating the Witch King of Angmar, and, of course, Frodo and Gollum’s last stand in the heart of Mount Doom.

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Basically, these The Lord of the Rings stamps show all our favorite characters in their most epic moments from Return of the King. Phew, it gives me chills. And, our favorite part—if you look closely at the designs of the stamps, you can see secret messages embedded in the gorgeous artwork by Sacha Lees. For example, if you really peer at Eowyn’s Shieldmaiden stamp, you can see small letters spelling out, “I am no man.” See if you can spot them all below.

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You can order these stamps today.

Return of the King Commemorative Coins

In addition to exquisite stamps, NZ Post has also been creating The Lord of the Rings Commemorative Coins. We know Gollum and dwarves alike would be absolutely entranced by this latest set. There are four Return of the King coins in total, one set of three and one that stands alone. In the set of three, aptly titled “The Lighting of the Beacons,” we see the lighting of the Beacons of Gondor scene come to life in silver and gold. The artistry of these is just beyond incredible. And, in our solo coin is the King of Men himself, Aragorn, being crowned by Gandalf.

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These epic coins are not available to purchase yet but are coming soon.

The Lord of the Rings Art Prints

If you’d like to enjoy this glorious artwork on a bit of a larger scale, some of the concepts for The Return of the King‘s stamps are also available in print form.

But you had better not delay at the Prancing Pony because these are limited edition and selling out. Prints of Gandalf and Eowyn are still available and cost $32.44 each.

About the Artist, NZ Post, and More

Artist Sacha Lees

These gorgeous The Lord of the Rings creations come from the glorious mind and fingers of artist Sacha Lees. A release shares, “The artist behind the stamps and pins is New Zealander Sacha Lees, who began her career at Wētā Workshop working on The Lord of the Rings trilogy as an illustrator, creature designer, and airbrush and concept artist.” What a true talent. You can check out Lees’ other work on her website, here. Trust us, you will not feel sorry you did.

New Zealand and The Lord of the Rings

We also wanted to extend a big round of applause to NZ Post. NZ Post has taken the time to honor The Lord of the Rings because of its incredible relationship with New Zealand. The company shares, “The 2003 release saw a world premiere bring Wellington to a standstill, and scored notable breakthroughs for the local film industry. Held in Wellington, the world premiere of The Return of the King saw a parade begin at Parliament and featured two hundred extras in costume, and demonstrated the growing profile of Aotearoa New Zealand’s film industry on the world stage… As Nancy Swarbrick notes in Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, the film’s stunning financial and critical success further increased international interest in Aotearoa New Zealand as a place to make big-budget movies.”

Of course, New Zealand played no small role in making the films look and feel incredible. We love this symbiotic relationship.

NZ Post’s Collectables

Finally, if you’ve loved NZ Post’s The Lord of the Rings collectibles as much as we have, make sure to check out its Collectables page for more excellent surprises. You never know what you might find. We’d also like to say a special thank you to NZ Post Head of Stamps and Collectables, Antony Harris, for keeping Nerdist informed about the latest in NZ Post news.

We’re crossing our fingers to see a 25th anniversary The Lord of the Rings collection or two someday soon.

The post NZ Post Celebrates 20 Years of THE RETURN OF THE KING appeared first on Nerdist.

A lot has happened in the world of entertainment this week. Prime Video’s Gen V is really setting up season four of The Boys, Loki season two is making big moves with franchise level implications, and Disney released Chris Pine’s villain song. But that’s not all that’s gone down.

Here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends that you don’t want to miss.

This Week’s Odds & Ends in News:

• EA Motive’s Iron Man Game Gets Much-Anticipated Updates
• Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings Collection Expands with Four New Scene Boxes
• NYC Transit App Becomes Pokémon Go of Rats and Informs You About the Rattiness of a Station
• Get Up to Some Mischief with BoxLunch’s Loki Collection
• Disneyland Resort Announces Pixar Place Hotel, the First Fully Pixar-Themed US Hotel
• Goldfish Elf Maple Syrup Flavored Grahams Are Swimming in for the Holidays
• Lost and Avatar: The Last Airbender Concerts Coming Soon
• Buy a Tiny Elf Home on Zillow
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Actor Wants Spidey-Pool in a Future Game

EA Motive’s Iron Man Game Gets Much-Anticipated Updates

Last September, Marvel Entertainment and EA’s Motive Studios announced they were teaming up for a brand new Iron Man game. This “all-new single-player, third-person, action-adventure” will “feature an original narrative that taps into the rich history of Iron Man, channeling the complexity, charisma, and creative genius of Tony Stark and enabling players to feel what it’s like to truly play as Iron Man.”

We haven’t heard too much about it since, but recently, the game received a few exciting updates. First, EA Motive shared that while the game was still in early pre-production, it had selected Unreal Engine 5 as its game engine. Additionally, a Community Council of Iron Man and Marvel fans has been selected to offer feedback on the game’s creation. And finally, Marvel Comics’ own Ryan North has joined the Iron Man game’s writing team, bringing his passion and expertise to the table. All of that sounds incredibly promising.

For more fun Avengers adventures, check out the trailer for LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red.

Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings Collection Expands with Four New Scene Boxes

Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings collection is really something spectacular. And now, its gorgeous offerings continue to expand with four special Tales of Middle-Earth Scene Boxes. These special sets offer fans and collectors “6 foil Borderless cards with art that combine to showcase one of the most epic scenes from The Lord of the Rings” as well as “6 Art Cards featuring the same art without any game text obscuring the view” and three booster packs which contain 12 cards each, “including 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher.”

The four scenes depicted in these special The Lord of the Rings Magic card box sets are Gandalf in Pelennor Fields, The Might of Galadriel, Flight of the Witch-King, and Aragorn at Helm’s Deep. Each set costs around $41, or all four are available for purchase for $144. All of these incredible box sets go on sale on November 3. We first saw these on GameSpot.

To explore more about Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set, check out our deep dive into the set, here.

NYC Transit App Becomes Pokémon Go of Rats and Informs You About the Rattiness of a Station

Catching a glimpse of a rat in NYC is kind of like playing Pokémon Go in real life, right? To help the vision along, an app called Transit, which we first saw on Kotaku, is helping to detect rat-levels across NYC’s many different subway stops. Transit shares, “We enlisted thousands of rodent spotters across the five boroughs to rank the rattiest stations.” And in the end, Transit created the “NYC Subway Rat Detector.” Rats, it turns out, are everywhere, but in some places more than others. Those who actually download the Transit app can get updated reports on the state of their favorite station and check-in regularly on the rat situation. No word yet on what happens if you throw a Poké Ball in the direction of an NYC rat… But we’ll have to suggest that you don’t.

Did you know that rats can play video games too? Take a look at these rats playing Doom II.

Get Up to Some Mischief with BoxLunch’s Loki Collection

Ready to embrace some extra mischief in your life? BoxLunch’s Loki collection is here to help you celebrate Loki, Sylvie, Mobius, Miss Minutes, and the TVA. Even though Loki and co. are probably going to bring down some multiversal mayhem on us all, it doesn’t mean we can’t look stylish while they do. And what could we possibly need more in our lives than an Alligator Loki plush? Ask yourselves.

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The full BoxLunch Loki collection is available here.

To catch up with Loki season two check out our latest write-up.

Disneyland Resort Announces Pixar Place Hotel, the First Fully Pixar-Themed US Hotel

Disneyland + Pixar + fully-themed hotel? Sounds like a match made in heaven to us. We honestly can’t believe the United States didn’t have a full Pixar hotel already, but we guess it didn’t. Disneyland Resort recently announced the Pixar Place Hotel, which will give you an excellent new place to stay while celebrating all things Pixar.

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A release shares, “Pixar Place Hotel will evoke the inspiration and humor that goes into every Pixar film, while celebrating the artistic process. Showcasing early sketches to finished design, the art and decor will highlight vibrant Pixar stories, revealing some never-before-seen artwork.” From the iconic Pixar Lamp to The Incredibles to Toy Story 3 and beyond this new hotel will have it all. It will even include a Finding Nemo pool complete with “Crush’s Surfin’ Slide, a 186-foot-long water slide inspired by the coolest sea turtle in the ocean.” That’s cool, dude. You can check out more facets and concepts for Pixar Place above.

As if that’s not enough, a Haunted Mansion bar is coming to Disney’s next cruise ship.

Goldfish Elf Maple Syrup Flavored Grahams Are Swimming in for the Holidays

Celebrate this holiday season with something sweet, Buddy the Elf style. In honor of Elf and everyone’s favorite elf, Goldfish is putting on their holiday best and offering us some maple syrup-flavored snacks. The official description of these treats notes, “MAPLE SYRUP FLAVORED GRAHAMS: Inspired by syrup – one of elves’ four main food groups. Enjoy delicious flavors of sweet brown sugar and butter, with the taste of caramel and vanilla. Inspired by Buddy the Elf!” Count us in. We also plan to greatly enjoy the different shapes these treats come in, which include Buddy’s hat, a maple syrup jar, and, of course, the traditional goldfish.

Elf turns 20 this year, and we couldn’t think of a finer way to welcome Buddy and the gang into double digits.

Need something else sweet in your life? Stranger Things‘ Scoops Ahoy ice cream is now available at Walmart.

Lost and Avatar: The Last Airbender Concerts Coming Soon

In need of some fun geeky outings to attend? Well, two iconic franchises are about to bring you fun in concert form. Avatar: The Last Airbender and Lost are both promising concerts that will transport you.

The official website for Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert shares, “Immerse yourself in an over two-hour show with a live orchestra bringing the show’s iconic musical score to life, in perfect harmony with highlights and favorite moments from the series. Taiko and erhu will share the spotlight with violins and clarinets, while the series’ most beloved scenes play out on screen, bringing viewers into the Avatar world to experience the series’ most memorable moments with Aang, Katara, Toph, Sokka, Zuko and more.”

Four dates have been announced across Europe and the United States. Hopefully more will follow.

Meanwhile, Lost‘s Michael Giacchino offers us a concert poster and little else. We guess it’s the Lost way to be mysterious. We do know we’ll see this Dharma Initiative concert in 2024.

If you need more Avatar: The Last Airbender in your life, check out everything we know about the live-action series.

Buy a Tiny Elf Home on Zillow

Okay, so you can’t actually buy a tiny elf home on Zillow. But who doesn’t love a miniature? And if you get in contact with your elf realtor, you might just take home this little house and $10,000 courtesy of Icelandic Provisions Skyr. All you have to do is make an offering… probably not of your soul. But watch out, the fae folk are tricky. Just keep in mind that heating is wool sweaters, this home has been available for 1,000 years, and the price per square foot is a quarter leg of lamb. Can we please get Netflix on Selling Fairyland, stat?

For more fairies and mythology, check out the Ahsoka series connecton to folklore and myth.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Actor Wants Spidey-Pool in a Future Game

Let’s face it, the people love to see Spider-Man and Deadpool interacting together in a relationship affectionately known as Spidey-Pool. Maybe someday the stars will align, and we’ll even get to see them on the big screen. But another excellent option would be for Spider-Man and Deadpool to meet up in Marvel’s Spider-Man games series.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 recently released to much praise and love. We bet a Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 will become a reality sooner rather than later. But what will it entail? Well, Peter Parker/Spider-Man’s actor Yuri Lowenthal has an idea. He’d like Peter Parker and Deadpool to meet up.

Speaking to ComicBook.com, Lowenthal shared:

I mean, there are so many ways they could go with a third game. I’m assuming, at this point nobody’s had me sign a contract for a third game, but I’m assuming there will be a third game… Look, here’s something I’ve been pitching for a long time, and I don’t know if they’re going to do it, but I love the Spidey-Pool relationship. I love Deadpool and Spider-Man. As much as I talk about Moon Knight in this universe, and Bryan Intihar is tired of me talking about that, I’ve been hard-pitching, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if Nolan North and I got to play in that?” And so I would love to see that. I’d love to see Deadpool and Spidey in this. Is it going to happen? Probably not. Do they listen to me? Mostly not. But that is a relationship I would love to see explored in games.

It would, indeed, be great.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also has its very own artbook. Check out our write-up, here.

The post IRON MAN Game Gets Update, ELF Maple Goldfish Are Here, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

For 25 generations the Ruling Stewards of Gondor sat atop the white city of Minas Tirith. However, they never claimed its throne. For while they lorded over the kingdom it had no monarch after Eärnur disappeared forever behind the gates of Minas Morgul. That was until Elessar Telcontar, known to some as Strider and others as Aragorn, claimed his birthright after helping to defeat Sauron once and for all. And if you already know all that Middle-earth history you’re definitely going to want to know about PureArts’ newest collectible. You can now honor The Return of the King with a full-sized The Lord of the Rings replica Crown of Gondor.

And is if that wasn’t good enough, it comes with one of the best stands an heir of Isildur could ever hope for.

You can now honor King Elessar and all the rulers of Gondor with a 1:1 scale crown based on the one worn by Viggo Mortensen in Peter Jackson’s Best Picture-winner. The latest collaboration between PureArts and Warner Bros. Discover Global Consumer Products is a faithful recreation of the silver and gold winged crown.

Don’t plan on putting this on a shelf. Nor will it rest on the head of someone with no royal claim. This crown sits atop a highly detailed, LED-lit replica of Minas Tirith. It’s an amazing item unto itself. All it’s missing is Gandalf and Pippin worrying about what awaits them tomorrow.

This gorgeous movie collectible is made of metal for the crown and polyresin for the base. It also comes with an embroidered replica of the Gondor Banner.

If you want your own Crown of Gondor you probably don’t want to wait to order yours. This is a very limited-edition item. Only 150 are available for purchase. And at a price of $749.99 we don’t expect them to last long. Forget 25 generations, it might not last 25 hours.

The post RETURN OF THE KING Replica Crown of Gondor Comes With Incredible Minas Tirith Base appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s been an exciting week to say the least. The WGA strike happily came to an end, Pokémon announced its full Van Gogh Museum collaboration, and we even got to see a very exciting familiar face on Ahsoka. But in the mix with all that, there were some other exciting annoucements and releases that might have gotten lost in the shuffle. But never fear, we’re ready to catch you up on it all.

Here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends that you don’t want to miss reading about.

This Week’s Odds & Ends in News:

• A Reboot of The Office Is Reportedly in the Works From Greg Daniels
• Newest The Lord of the Rings Release Will Be a Cozy Game Featuring Hobbits and the Shire
• Get Ready for the Holidays with LEGO’s Marvel Avengers Advent Calendar
• A Rick & Morty Movie Could Be Heading Our Way
• Enjoy Magic: The Gathering Themed Pancakes a IHOP
• Spirit Halloween Movie Coming to Stream on Shudder
• Skittles Littles Invites You to Taste a Mini Rainbow

A Reboot of The Office Is Reportedly in the Works From Greg Daniels

That’s right folks, it might be time to head back to work… Or whatever it is they do in The Office. According to The Wrap, The Office series co-creator Greg Daniels is reportedly working on a reboot of the show’s US version. This news is still tenuous for now. It comes from Puck News‘ Matthew Belloni. As the WGA strike came to a close, Belloni shared in his newsletter, “We’re also about to see a firehose of announcements of projects and castings that have been held back for fear of bad optics or violating guild rules. Greg Daniels is set to do a reboot of ‘The Office,’ for instance.”

Of course, we’ve seen conversations surrounding a reboot or spinoff of The Office before. In fact, Parks and Recreation started life as a spinoff of The Office. In this age of media, everything old can become new again. And The Office remains an immensely popular show. So if Greg Daniels really was helming a The Office reboot, it would not surprise us. But we would be equally unsurprised if it did not come to pass. Only time will tell.

Check out news of the latest remake of The Office, here:

Newest The Lord of the Rings Release Will Be a Cozy Game Featuring Hobbits and the Shire

Ready for some truly exciting news for fall? A new The Lord of the Rings video game is coming our way and this one will be a cozy outing dedicated to Hobbits and the Shire. Honestly, we could not imagine a better idea to make into reality. We don’t know too much about the game yet, but a teaser trailer for Tales of the Shire sets up with just the right vibes.

Your cosy Hobbit life awaits in Tales of the Shire, a heart-warming new The Lord of the Rings™ game by Wētā Workshop and Private Division. Coming 2024. pic.twitter.com/CvDnRXyMQN

— talesoftheshire (@talesoftheshire) September 21, 2023

A little watercolor, a little humming, and a few leaves blowing in the wind, you say? That’s a real mood right there. The only explanation we get so far notes, “Your cosy Hobbit life awaits in Tales of the Shire, a heart-warming new The Lord of the Ring game by Wētā Workshop and Private Division. Coming 2024.” In the video, we do see references to the Green Dragon, Ivy Bush, and Bywater. But those are about our only clues.

Wētā Workshop, of course, is known for its gorgeous creations and work on The Lord of the Rings movies. We’re hoping for the best and expecting the best with Tales of the Shire.

Check out some gorgeous The Lord of the Rings collectible items, here:

Get Ready for the Holidays with LEGO’s Marvel Avengers Advent Calendar

If you’re like us, you don’t really want to get ready for the holidays yet. It feels early. But nevertheless, the holiday season is incoming whether we like it or not. But least it’s bringing with it some excellent gifting ideas. High on our list is this LEGO Marvel Avengers Advent Calendar. Whether this is your first LEGO Marvel Advent calendar or your hundredth, opening 24 days of superhero surprises make for a lot of fun.

This year the calendar will bring you LEGO Minifigures of your favorite Avengers like Okoye, Doctor Strange, Captain America, Spider-Man, Wong, Iron Man, and Black Widow alongside mini builds and accessories. Additionally, “Buildable play experiences include a Quinjet, jetpack, ice hockey kit, the Hydra Train and lots more items inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe.” Basically, you get to create a LEGO Avengers winter wonderland. And what could be better than that? We especially love Okoye playing a game of hockey.

The LEGO Marvel Avengers Advent Calander is available now and costs $44.99.

For more LEGO Marvel fun, check out this advanced Captain America shield set, here:

A Rick and Morty Movie Could Be Heading Our Way

Rick and Morty season season seven premieres in October. But a recent profile with creator Dan Harmon by The Hollywood Reporter indicates even more Rick and Morty could be on the way in movie form. The publication notes “Pre-strike, Harmon even had a serious conversation with executives at Warner Bros. about a Rick and Morty feature. He says they were all aligned on a kind of ‘“’super episode’”’ conceit, the way that Matt Stone and Trey Parker approached the South Park movie years ago. He has plenty more percolating in development, too, including a musical and a multicam.”

Whether these Rick and Morty movie conversations return post-strike remains to be seen. But it feels like one way or another, we’ll get a whole lot more Rick and Morty on our screens sooner rather than later. A “super episode” seems to only make sense.

Check out Rick and Morty‘s full season seven trailer, here:

Enjoy Magic: The Gathering Themed Pancakes a IHOP

Need more Magic: The Gathering in your life? How about in pancake form? Well, if so, you’re in luck. IHOP and Magic: The Gathering are collaborating on a Magic-themed menu that will be available for a limited time. In addition to being able to redeem IHOP loyalty points for Magic: The Gathering Arena in-game rewards, “Guests can also order from a custom Magic: The Gathering Arena menu featuring five specially themed pancakes at participating IHOPs.”

Here’s what the menu consists of:

• Ajani’s Purr-fect Pancakes: Original Buttermilk – classic original buttermilk keeping the Multiverse at peace. 
• Jace’s Illusion-Berry Pancakes: Double Blueberry – double blueberry pancakes conjured specially for magic lovers. 
• Liliana’s Chocolate Corruption Pancakes: Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Chocolate pancakes – chocolate chips & chocolate syrup – irresistible for mere mortals. 
• Chandra’s Pyroblast Pancakes: Strawberry Banana – a delicious combination of banana-filled pancakes topped with fiery red strawberries, more bananas & strawberry syrup. Consume with haste. 
• Vivien’s Heroic Protein Pancakes: Protein Power – protein-packed pancakes that are in tune with nature & in tune with your stomach.

Sounds magical to us!

Check out Magic: The Gathering‘s latest cool collaboration cards, here:

Spirit Halloween Movie Coming to Stream on Shudder

Remember the Spirit Halloween movie? Maybe you do, probably you don’t. But if you want to watch your favorite Halloween store transform into a horror movie you can now do so at any time. The Spirit Halloween movie will start streaming on Shudder beginning on October 2. This movie might not be what you call good, but it could be what you call a good time. Not to mention, according to Variety, it was shot in abandoned Toys R Us location in Georgia.

Relive the magic of the Spirit Halloween movie’s trailer, here:

Skittles Littles Invites You to Taste a Mini Rainbow

Admit it! Things are better when they’re teeny tiny. Just look at mini M&Ms! Well, Skittles wants to get into the fun now with Skittles Littles. These small candies are exactly what they sound like, Skittles but shrunk down to cute-size. We love it. A release shares, “Bursting with the five iconic fruity flavors of SKITTLES fans love, now in a tiny and more poppable form, SKITTLES Littles make it even easier to enjoy SKITTLES on-the-go.”

We can’t wait to taste the tiny rainbow. Skittles Littles are available now in stores and online.

If you’re looking for more adorable treats, take a look at this Girl Scout Cookie collaboration with Skippy P.B. Bites

The post THE OFFICE Reboot in the Works, a Cozy LOTR Game Coming Soon, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.

Original reporting by Melissa Miller.

Middle-earth seems to be all around us these days. We’re still waiting on fresh news from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power‘s season two, but other Tolkien adventures are giving us plenty of things to feel excited about. Recently, Wizards of the Coast announced the newest Magic: The Gathering collection’s Tolkien tie-in. The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth collection comes out on June 23, 2023. The artwork for the first revealed cards is a stunning addition to the already rich tapestry of Middle-earth, and we can’t wait to see even more. Not to mention, Magic has created a very special surprise regarding its “Rings” cards. Here’s what we know about this The Lord of the Rings collaboration with Magic cards.

Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Reveals First Magic Cards

Recently, we got a good look at the first revealed cards from The Lord of the Rings‘ collaboration with Magic. Magic: The Gathering revealed many of Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth‘s offerings. From Frodo to Sam to Tom Bombadil to Arwen, the Shire, and more, here is some of what you can look forward to:

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Of course, Magic will create some special cards to serve as Middle-earth’s magical rings. These rare cards’ availability will be based on Tolkien’s iconic poem detailing how many of each kind of ring were made. (Three rings for the elven kings means 300 or 3,000 versions of that card, etc.) And, in the end, that, of course, leaves us with just one ring. Yes. There will be a special version of the One Ring of Power Magic card that will be serialized as only one of one. Happy hunting for this precious…

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Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Comes to Magic: The Gathering

The initial news was from a slate of announcements Wizards of the Coast made about both Magic and Dungeons & Dragons offerings coming up in 2023 as Magic celebrates its 30th anniversary. We’ll also see a Doctor Who set coming soon. For both, alchemy sets will also be available for digital players of Magic: The Gathering Arena.

The Lord of the Rings Magic Cards Release Date and Product Information

A release for Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth shares more about what we can expect. It notes:

The Lord of the Rings has come to Magic: The Gathering, and it’s time to take familiar favorites on a whole new journey there and back again. In the upcoming set The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™, players have the chance to join the Fellowship in adventures filled with valor, courage, and second breakfast. Play your favorite moments of the third age or turn Middle-earth on its head and surrender to the temptation of the Precious. Either way; Middle-earth is in your hands.

The set has two primary launch windows—June 2023 and a holiday launch in November 2023—and is the first full set release as part of Universes Beyond, bringing the iconic world of J.R.R. Tolkien to life within the Magic frame. The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth is modern legal and comprised of Draft, Set, Collector, and Jumpstart Boosters, four Commander decks, a Starter Kit, a Bundle and Gift Bundle, Scene Boxes, and Secret Lair drops.

More Looks at the Art of This Collection

You can check out more product artwork from The Lord of the Rings Magic set below:

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Other Nerdy Sets

Even though scientists declared Magic: The Gathering the world’s most complex game, it’s clear that it offers something for everyone. There’s My Little Pony cards after all. Other recent crossovers include Stranger Things, FortNite, and Street Fighter. But no mashup has ever made me want to own a set more than the Bob Ross painting “Happy Little Gathering” landscapes collection. Maybe it’s not too late to get into Magic. 

If the game still doesn’t seem like quite your thing, you can always watch other people play. Like this delightful video of Joseph Gordon-Levitt opening his boxes of Magic cards for the first time since he was a kid. Or the Netflix animated series starring Brandon Routh, allegedly coming soon.

Originally published on August 18, 2022.

The post MAGIC: THE GATHERING Reveals First LORD OF THE RINGS Cards appeared first on Nerdist.

‘Tis the season for ugly holiday sweaters. Whether you gather in the Golden Hall or around the Party Tree, these The Lord of the Rings ugly holiday sweaters will keep you festive and warm. FUN.com has four designs to help you showcase your fandom this holiday season. Would you choose Gandalf battling the fiery Balrog or Gollum admiring the ring in his dark cave? Both come with the one ring’s Black Speech text scrolled across the waistband and sleeves.

If you prefer more muted tones, there’s also a Mordor sweater. Barad-dûr and Mount Doom dominate, while the Nazgûl and eagles battle overhead. Slightly more cheerfully, the final option is a festive green and features Treebeard carrying Merry and Pippin as they roam the forests near Isengard. Just don’t tell Treebeard what happens to trees during the Christmas season. 

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All of the Lord of the Rings ugly holiday sweaters are a cozy and comfortable acrylic and cotton blend. They each sell for $49.99. The prints are bold and colorful, as holiday sweaters are meant to be. But FUN also makes more subtle ways to show off your favorite fandom. If you want to keep your geekiness slightly more muted but still represent in the office or at weddings, there’s everything from blazers with superhero linings to Bob Ross boxer briefs, and even a TARDIS pocket square.

Every year we’re thankful for a new batch of ugly holiday sweaters to choose from. There’s one for every fandom imaginable at this point, even when the movie or TV show isn’t particularly festive. For example, Game of Thrones isn’t known for its fun celebrations of special occasions—quite the opposite really—and yet there are ugly sweaters to represent those complicated family gatherings. And you don’t have to be Ryan Reynolds to pull off an ugly holiday sweater, they’re fun for the whole family. 

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

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Today in very silly math problems, someone has figured out how many cans of SpaghettiOs you would need if you wanted to rewrite the The Lord of the Rings trilogy in that noodle-y medium. You may ask why, but we ask why not. First up, the creative mind behind the @tsj_electronics TikTok account figured out how many of each letter is in the average can of SpaghettiOs. This part of the project required hands-on counting and the rest was programming. 

Each can of SpaghettiOs is about 37% the letter O, with the rest split pretty evenly among the other 25 letters in the alphabet. Though he breezes through this part of the calculation, apparently J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy has 2,261,081 letters in it. The most common letter is E, making it the limiting factor. In order to get all 281,428 E’s needed, you’d have to open 8,795 cans of SpaghettiOs. And you’d also waste a lot of food, with 8,134,609 letters leftover. 

The TikTok account, which we learned about from GameSpot, has some other fun SpaghettiOs content outside of The Lord of the Rings. After making the program, his first calculation was how many cans it would take to write the script for Bee Movie (192). The SpaghettiOs brand account got in touch, offering to send him and his local food pantry 192 cans each. He also created a font with the noodles and showed off how the letter M and W differ. The calculation involving the King James Bible adds new fun facts. Some of them include the amount of calories and how high that many cans would stack.

This is not the only fun math problem that definitely didn’t need to be solved we’ve seen recently. We also know how much it would have cost E.T. to phone home if he’d used a regular phone and whether or not Westeros dragons are too big to fly on those small wings.

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

The post How Many Cans of SpaghettiOs Would It Take to Write THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy? appeared first on Nerdist.

Like the elves of Middle-earth, some species on Earth don’t die of old age. The scientific term is negligible senescence, which means they show little or no signs of biological aging. It applies when scientists don’t find the expected lower reproductive ability and increased risk of death that comes with increasing age. Like Tolkien’s elves, these species can die but they don’t just because they’re old. Could these animals be immortal and live forever? It could be that we mortal humans just haven’t been studying them long enough to see the pattern.

Turtles and tortoises live long lives but they do eventually reach a point of biological mortality. Alligators and crocodiles are often thought to be immortal because they continue to grow and have babies their entire lives. While reptiles are certainly weird and ancient, long-term research shows they do in fact age. But the jury is still out on these other species.

The Immortal Jellyfish

The species literally named the immortal jellyfish may be just that. They begin life as free-swimming larvae and then attach to the seafloor as polyps. They mature into a medusa, or what we think of as a typical jellyfish, with a bell and tentacles. The immortal jellyfish, and a few other known species, can reverse this metamorphosis. If stressed by environmental changes or injury, adults can revert back to the polyp stage and start over again from there. Scientists recently sequenced its genome and found that it has duplicate copies of genes that repair DNA, allowing it to avoid the weaknesses of old age.

Greenland Sharks

We already know that Greenland sharks can live to be over 500 years old. And they’re still living their best lives with no end in sight. They are also one of the largest sharks because they continue to grow over the centuries. Scientists think they live mostly in the cold ocean depths, which may help them grow more slowly and live longer. Their whole lives are on an extended timeline. Greenland sharks don’t sexually mature until they are 150 years old. And females gestate their pups for years before giving birth. At this point, we have no idea how long Greenland sharks are capable of living. 

Naked Mole Rats

Most rodents of a similar size to naked mole rats live about six years. But they can live at least 30 years. And that’s just as long as we’ve been doing research on their lifespans, so it’s possible they live much longer. Recent studies of the naked mole rat suggest its ability to survive in low oxygen environments could be the reason it lives far longer than any other rodent. And they still remain fertile at that advanced age. We simply don’t know how long they can live.

Clonal Organisms

Trees like aspen are clonal, meaning an entire grove is technically one organism. There’s a root system in Utah thought to be more than 80,000 years old. Though the trees only survive about 150 years, they live on through others. Seagrass in Australia recently declared the world’s largest organism is also a clone. And estimated to be 4,500 years old. Some bacteria and yeast, as well as some species of flatworms that divide in order to reproduce, also live on indefinitely in this way.

Other Real World Creatures and Plants That Live Forever

A form of hibernation allows some species, like tardigrades, to live indefinitely. Organisms that shut down biological activity under cold or low oxygen conditions can come back to life. There are also species that live an epically long time. We may never know if they are indeed immortal simply because we can’t study them on such a long time scale. There are bristlecone pine trees known to be over 5,000 years old. Which is essentially as long as the history of humans making scientific observations.

Rivers and oceans hold many mysteries, including long-living species of fish. Some rockfish live to be at least 250 years old. Lobsters continue to grow throughout their lives. This ability could be linked to their ability to repair DNA. A type of clam called an ocean quahog can live at least 500 years.

So while there’s little hope of humans becoming immortal like the elves in The Lord of the Rings, it’s fascinating to know that other life on Earth can. And it doesn’t stop scientists from trying to learn their secrets. One lifetime for us is just the blink of an eye to an aspen grove, after all. Perhaps even elves age, but no one else on Middle-earth has been around long enough to see it happen. The fact that the oldest elf in Tolkien’s saga, Círdan the Shipwright, was eventually able to grow a beard indicates biological changes even after thousands of years.

Featured Image: Natural World Facts

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

The post Like Elves, These Seemingly Immortal Animals May Live Forever appeared first on Nerdist.

What’s your first memory of reading The Lord of the Rings? Mine was thumbing through tattered hand-me-down copies that barely stayed bound after numerous rereads. Though the epic fantasy classics are known for their immense battles between good and evil, the thing that always stuck with me were the quiet cozy moments, or the rambunctious slice of life fun. But most of all what really stuck with me from The Lord of the Rings—like most books and films I loved as a kid—was the food. 

Tolkien often introduces pivotal moments with food and festivities. The Fellowship of the Ring begins as Bilbo Baggins celebrates his eleventy first birthday as Frodo Baggins celebrates his 33rd. The warmth of the event filled with family, friends, and—most importantly—food establishes a fairytale-esque feel as loved ones feast together. It also establishes the importance of food as a place of safety and fun in a world that’s increasingly dangerous. Food also acts as a way to introduce the different cultures in the story, from the Hobbits and their six meals (seven in the Peter Jackson movies), or the exotic cuisines of Rivendell. 

Speaking of those movies, the most magical moments for me all take place in the quiet and cozy. The Hobbits embark on their epic adventures in both the original trilogy and the follow up Hobbit series; however, the moments I revisit the most are in the Shire. It’s there where our heroes nourish themselves and rest before the big journey. It’s where new members of the party arrive to feast before they embark on a dangerous quest. And it’s the place that every Hobbit cannot wait to return to, and fights to get back to as they battle to save their world and home. 

So with all the world saving, dragons, treasure, and of course those magical rings, why does food hold such an important part in the hearts of fans of the Lord of the Rings books and their adaptations? For me, it’s a vital part of the world building that makes the fantasy space feel lived in and real. It’s also aspirational. Many of us didn’t have access to delicious hearty food. Nor did we have food grown in our own communities or that we didn’t have to struggle to pay for.

A Hobbit eats six meals a day and takes pleasure in each one. And even as they battle for their lives they think about the importance of food, what it means to them, and what they’ll eat when they get home. Who among us hasn’t had the thought of a delicious meal fueling them through a tough—though likely not world-ending—day? See, Hobbits are just like the rest of us. 

There are plenty of delicious descriptions of food in the books. Some of them are brought to life in the movies like lembas bread, honey cake, steaming teas, and flagons of ale. One of the meals that I often return to in sad, dark moments or times when I want to instill a sense of coziness in my life is the spread at The Prancing Pony.

It’s also one of the most popular meals for fans to recreate at their own Lord of the Rings inspired dinner parties. After reading the moment from chapter nine of The Fellowship of the Rings it’s easy to see why. “In a twinkling the table was laid. There was hot soup, cold meats, a blackberry tart, new loaves, slabs of butter, and half a ripe cheese: good plain food, as good as the Shire could show, and homelike enough to dispel the last of Sam’s misgivings (already much relieved by the excellence of the beer).” 

These delightful descriptions inspired a deep love for fictional food. They made me want to find more delectable dishes in fantasy and clearly inspired generations of writers. The first time I found something close was in Neil Gaiman’s Stardust. When Tristan and a new friend shared a meal, my memories and imagination were instantly tinged with hunger. “They sat beside a brook to eat their lunch. Tristran produced the cottage loaf, the ripe, red apples, and round of cheese—hard, tart and crumbly—that his mother had given him.”

This was years before I discovered Studio Ghibli, arguably the contemporary masters of fantastical food in fiction. But like many of us I often return to the meals of Middle-earth. And recently I realized I wasn’t alone. 

Thanks to TikTok, I discovered there’s a whole community of people who create gorgeous Lord of the Rings inspired food. They often replicating or inventing dishes that Hobbits would eat. It’s a creative and cozy circle, where people go to great lengths to nourish those they love. It also continues a long tradition of Lord of the Rings fans crafting meals, writing cookbooks, running recipe blogs, and hosting large dinners for friends. It’s a fandom that, just like the Hobbits that inspired it, embraces food and how it can be a space to show love, care, and community. 

Featured Image: New Line Cinema 

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The Rings of Power depicts a world both strange and familiar. It’s Middle-earth, yes, but a Middle-earth before the events known as The Lord of the Rings. This is the Second Age, just before the dark reign of Sauron, when the island of Númenor was a cultural hub and Elves, Dwarves, and Men peacefully coexisted. But all’s not as well as it appears. There’s a disturbance in the East. A darkness gathers. The fate of Arda is in danger once more.  At the center of it all is Galadriel. But who is Galadriel, the mysterious and powerful elf?

Later known as the Lady of Lothlórien, Galadriel is one of the great Elves of Middle-earth, admired for her beauty, intelligence, and power. In Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy—and likewise in J.R.R. Tolkien’s source material—Galadriel also has an air of mystery. She is seemingly all-knowing and all-seeing, but we learn very little of her origins. She assists the Fellowship on their route to defeat Sauron, but she refrains from direct action. In her own words, Galadriel is capable of great beauty and great terror. And although in The Lord of the Rings movies, we see her war with herself, she ultimately passes the test before her and does not take the Ring of Power. But that’s the end of her story, and we’re going back to the beginning.

If you’ve only seen the movies, then you might wonder why Galadriel is front and center in the teasers for Amazon’s The Rings of Power television series. She narrates the two most recent trailers, warning of the darkness soon to come. But how does she know what’s happening and what makes her so important? 

Here’s everything you need to know about Galadriel to prepare you for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Galadriel’s Origins

Tolkien’s collections The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales both shed light on the early years of Galadriel. She was born to Finarfin, prince of the Ñoldor (a kindred of High Elves), and Eärwen, their only daughter. Her elder brothers were Finrod Felagund, Angrod, and Aegnor. Notable for her beautiful golden hair, she was born in Valinor—or the Undying Lands—in the Years of the Trees, named for the Two Trees of Valinor. These sacred vessels, one silver and one gold, gave light to Valinor. They were eventually destroyed by the jealous Dark Lord Morgoth, their fragments becoming the sun and moon of Middle-earth. 

We catch a glimpse of the Trees of Valinor in one of the new trailers. This appears to be a flashback to Galadriel’s peaceful life before leaving the Undying Lands. Prior to her departure, she was a participant in the rebellion of the Ñoldor, led by their High King Fingolfin. Her family left Valinor for Beleriand, located in northwest Middle-earth, crossing the icy Helcaraxë and arriving at the start of the First Age. 

Galadriel took no part in the early wars of Middle-earth, though all three of her brothers fought and died in them. During this time, she met her future husband, the elf Celeborn. After Morgoth’s defeat, the Valar offered her safe passage back to Valinor, but she turned it down, opting to stay in Middle-earth.

The Second Age and the Elves

After Galadriel and Celeborn wed, they moved to the Elvish realm of Lindon where they ruled under Gil-galad, the High King of the Ñoldor. They had a daughter, Celebrían, who would later marry Elrond and give birth to three children, including Arwen. Under Gil-galad’s rule, Galadriel and Celeborn established a number of Elvish domains and traveled across Middle-earth. In the valley of the River Anduin, they came across a settlement that later became Lothlórien. For a time, they made Lothlórien their home and ruled over the Elves that lived there.  

Around this time, there were whispers of a Maia known as Annatar, or the “Lord of Gifts,” who was involved in magical arts and trained the Ñoldor of Eregion—including Celebrimbor—to make rings. Together, Annatar and Celebrimbor created the Rings of Power, three of which they gifted to the Elven-kings. Galadriel immediately distrusted Annatar, upsetting Celebrimbor, who seized power in Eregion. However, when they learned Annatar was, in truth a lieutenant of Morgoth, Sauron, Celebrimbor realigned with Galadriel. He entrusted her with one of the three Elven rings: Nenya, the Ring of Water. 

When Sauron realized Celebrimbor hid the rings from him, he attacked Eregion. Celeborn and Elrond, who brought in forces from Lindon, were able to hold him off temporarily. Eventually, Eregion fell, Celebrimbor was killed, and Sauron escaped with several of the rings back to Mordor. 

The whereabouts of Galadriel and Celeborn after the fall of Eregion aren’t entirely clear. They may have gone back to Lothlórien for a time, although it is believed they also spent time in Rivendell and eventually in Belfalas, a coastal region of Gondor. After Sauron’s (temporary) defeat at the end of the Second Age, Galadriel first used Nenya’s powers to protect the borders of the Elvish realms. 

The Later Life of Galadriel and Her Ultimate Age

The Third Age of Middle-earth is the most familiar to casual fans. It’s when the events of The Lord of the Rings, including the War of the Ring, took place. During this time, Galadriel hosted the Fellowship of the Ring in Lothlórien and gifted them objects to help on their journey. She also assisted them from afar; summoning the eagles to save Gandalf, nursing him back to health after his fight with the Balrog, and sending word to Aragorn about the Paths of the Dead. Thanks to Nenya, she was able to keep Sauron’s forces out of Lorien and protect the Elves. 

When Frodo offered her the One Ring during the Fellowship’s stay in Lothlórien, Galadriel “passed the test” before her. Meaning that she managed to fight off the Ring of Power’s seductive forces, refusing to take it and succumb to its evil. There, Galadriel proves her ultimate goodness and wisdom despite her occasionally mercurially.

After Sauron’s defeat, she and Celeborn destroyed Sauron’s fortress Dol Guldur, attended the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen, and then the funeral of Théoden. She eventually left Middle-earth for the Undying Lands, along with Frodo, Bilbo, and some of her fellow Elves. At the time of her final journey to the Grey Havens, we know Galadriel to be over 8,000 years old.

The Rings of Power

Morfydd Clark plays Galadriel in The Rings of Power, taking up the mantle from Cate Blanchett. And from the looks of things, her role is greatly expanded beyond what is already known. In the teaser from SDCC, we see Galadriel gazing into a palantír. In other scenes and promo photos, Galadriel dresses in armor, survives a shipwreck, receives visions, and warns Elrond of an evil enemy. It appears that she will be our conduit into the past and future, like she was in Jackson’s films. She is one of the oldest beings in Middle-earth, so this makes perfect sense.

But just how she’ll fit in and what liberties they’ll take with the source material remains to be seen. For now, we’re just excited to see a familiar face at the center of this grand adventure. 
The first episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power arrives on Amazon Prime on September 2.

The post What to Know About Galadriel Before THE RINGS OF POWER appeared first on Nerdist.

Truly excellent fan merchandise honors the audience’s love for their favorite properties. Collectibles can be point-perfect, but they’ll always fall short if they don’t celebrate the powerful connection between fan and story. It’s about heart. And NZ Post’s The Lord of the Rings collectible stamps and coins are over-brimming with it. They are not only beautiful, but they feel almost reverent.

And like hobbits, there’s more to these beautiful pieces than meets the eye. Some might say these Lord of the Rings coins and stamps are full of surprises. We at Nerdist are proud to exclusively share that these incredible LOTR collectibles actually contain special Easter eggs.

NZ Post’s Hidden Odes to The Lord of the Rings

These LOTR coins and stamps, which we’ve written about before, were created by NZ Post to honor The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’s 2oth anniversary. But NZ Post wanted to make this celebration extra special. So on every intricate stamp and gleaming coin lies a hidden line from the movie. As Gandalf might say, never underestimate the smallest of things.

Antony Harris, NZ Post Head of Stamps and Collectables, shares with Nerdist: 

It was Sacha Lees, the artist who created the stamps and coins, who suggested including Easter egg quotes in micro text. Sacha created NZ Post’s original Fellowship of the Ring stamps in 2001, back when she was working for Wētā Workshop in Wellington, New Zealand. Wētā was a small, emerging company at the time which meant Sacha was required to lend a hand in all sorts of departments.

Ultimately, it was Sacha’s idea as the designer and visionary to add the micro text. To give the fans a surprise and add something special to the stamps and coins. We loved the idea. Initially, we weren’t sure if we could print the stamps and produce coins with micro text that small. However, after consulting with our stamp printers and the dutch mint we found innovative ways to make it work.

These hidden treasures make the LOTR coins and stamps even more special. The coins feel right out of the dwarven forges. And the stamps are so delicately made the elves would claim them proudly. It feels clear that Lees had great passion for the movies that she helped to create and brought that energy here. A big round of applause to NZ Post for helping her vision to become a reality.

At the bottom of this post, you can see all of the hidden inscriptions.

The “Nine Companions” LOTR Coin

Nerdist is also excited to share a brand new Lord of the Rings coin that will join its brothers in the collection. This coin honors the whole fellowship and its nine companions. From Gandalf to Boromir, from Legolas to Aragorn to Gimli, and the hobbits beside, every fellowship member comes to life here.

Behind the characters, the Misty Mountains (New Zealand’s Southern Alps) stand tall. And Elvish text surrounds the central image. This coin calls to those who feel part of the fellowship in their hearts. It will release in New Zealand on the exact day of The Fellowship of the Rings’ 20th anniversary, December 19. The coin comes in a 5oz silver proof version and in a 1kg silver coin version.

And, of course… it too contains secrets. 

Our Favorite Hidden Movie Lines:

Below, you can see all the secret messages written into every Lord of the Rings stamp and coin. These clever inscriptions let fans think fondly back on some of their favorite moments from the franchise. And they create the feeling of a little something hidden and magical. Here are some of our favorites:

“Speak Friend and Enter”

“Gandalf, my old friend… This will be a night to remember.”

“You cannot hide, I see you.”

The Lord of the Rings Coins: Full Set

To take a closer look at the hidden text on all the LOTR collectible coins, simply right-click each image and open it in a new tab.

The Lord of the Rings Stamps: Full Set

To take a closer look at the hidden text on all the LOTR collectible stamps, simply right-click each image and open it in a new tab.

The post NZ Post’s LOTR Stamps and Coins Contain Hidden Easter Eggs appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s impossible to think of the Shire without thinking about the lovely coziness of the hobbits’ community. And the centerpiece of it all, of course, is Bag End, the home of Bilbo Baggins. When we watch Lord of the Rings, the safety and lush, simple pleasures of the hobbit lives call to us. And now, we can bring a little piece of that into our homes with Weta Workshop’s new Lord of the Rings “Bag End on the Hill” and “Bag End Hobbit Hole” sculptures. These new collectible LOTR “environments” capture all the magic of a hobbit’s world in sculpture form.

Weta Workshop shares:

Every hobbit-hole is unique, expressing the personality of its inhabitants with colour and prettily adorned with gardens, furniture, and the rustic debris of everyday life. The abiding atmosphere of Bag End itself is one of lazy comfort, from the pretty but slightly overgrown gardens that hug its eaves to the welcoming clutter inside its labyrinthine chambers. Sprawling around the Hill beneath the shade of an old oak tree whose roots twist through its halls, the grand smial reflects the gentle good humour of its hosts and the universal Hobbit love of simple pleasures.

This beautiful Bag End sculpture is perfection down to the most minute details. Our favorite part? The cozy light emanating from the windows. It really makes you feel like the fire is crackling merrily in the grate as some delicious stew simmers in a pot. You can even peer inside the door of this cozy home. Will you see Bilbo at his desk? Or Frodo looking pensive out a window. Weta Workshop has done some incredible LOTR sculpture work before. But this feels by far the warmest.

And this Lord of the Rings collectible also brings something new to the table. Leonard Ellis, Weta Workshop’s collectible team leader, and Daniel Falconer, its art director reveal a surprise in the sculpture. This miniature Bag End offers a look at the hobbit hole’s backdoor. John Howe, a chief concept designer on The Lord of the Rings movies, actually drafted the concept of the backdoor. But it was never built for the movies. Weta Workshop brings Bag End’s backdoor to life physically for the first time in this sculpture.

All the detail work also astounds. From tiny flowers to perfect mushrooms, to a small bench perfect for even smaller hobbits to sit, we love all of it. Atop the Bag End sculpture, the iconic oak tree offers its roots to the structure, adding a touch of ancient magic to the fray. This Lord of the Rings sculpture was “hand-sculpted environment by Gong Zhaohui with model-making by Leonard Ellis and David Tremont. Additional digital elements by Bawal Saggi.”

This LOTR collectible sculpture will be a limited edition piece. But the size of the edition depends on pre-orders. With such a level of intricacy, this Lord of the Rings sculpture doesn’t come cheap. The full version comes out to $1,199.00. However, Weta Workshop understands that a sculpture of this size (and cost) may not make sense for many people. So they have also released a smaller version of the Bag End sculpture.

This one focuses on the front of Bag End and offers a smaller, but no less beautiful taste of Middle-earth. Here, the price drops to $99.

Both versions of this amazing LOTR collectible sculpture are available for pre-order now.

The post New Weta Workshop LOTR Bag End Sculpture Radiates Cozy Magic appeared first on Nerdist.

Many of us who are avid readers often re-purchase fancy, hardcover versions of our favorite books. Often just to decorate our shelves. After all, these gilded hardcovers are sometimes works of art in and of themselves. Now, one TikToker has taken artsy hardcover editions of some of her favorite books, and beautified them even more.

On the TikTok account Bri Marie Paints, the artist paints detailed art on the pages of classic novels, hidden on the fore-edge. In other words, you can only see the artwork when you angle the pages in a certain way. And the result is absolutely stunning. You can check out some of our favorite examples right here:

Bri Marie Paints

Set to the tune of Howard Shore’s music from The Lord of the Rings, Bri Mario Paints has created a gorgeous image of Rivendell onto the fore-edges. On the other two sides, we get an image of Bilbo’s home in the Shire, and another of the One Ring.

The images used for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland are pretty much what one would expect. But that makes them no less lovely. We saw Alice falling down the rabbit hole, as well as the Cheshire Cat. Although they use music from the Disney classic, we would have probably gone with Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit.” Or even Lady Gaga’s “Alice.”

Although Atticus Finch is nowhere to be seen, this is nevertheless an evocative image for To Kill a Mockingbird. And we can’t really argue with the musical choice, as the use of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” is a “chef’s kiss” choice.

A lot of folks only know Outlander as a television series. But it was a popular series of novels first. Diana Gabaldon’s characters of Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall adorn the gilded pages of the first Outlander book.

To see even more, be sure to head on over to the Bri Marie Paints TikTok.

The post Fore-Edge Painting TikToks Add Intricate Artwork to Books appeared first on Nerdist.

Is there a Lord of the Rings locale that warms our hearts more than the Shire? The home of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins, as well as all the other Hobbits, is where most fans of Middle-earth would visit if they could. Close your eyes and think of the Shire, and you can just hear Howard Shore’s comforting music pop into your head. Anyone down for a pint at the Green Dragon Inn?

Now, Neil of the YouTube channel Real Terrain Hobbies has just constructed a meticulous recreation of the Shire, a.k.a. Hobbiton, for their own home. Only this Shire is reimagined as an exquisitely detailed wargaming diorama. And it is truly a thing of beauty. You can watch a video of the creation of this incredible DIY project right here:

It all started with some 3D printed versions of the hillside homes of the Hobbits, made in exquisite detail. Then Neil created the terrain, the Halfling homes, and all of the lights. And then came all of the painting, plus trees, rocks, the works. Of course, since this is a Shire wargaming diorama, an army was needed to fill everything out. Interestingly, war never actually came to the Hobbit’s pastoral home (in the movies, at least). And yes, there is a little pumpkin patch. What are Hobbits without their garden-grown vegetables, after all?

Real Terrain Hobbies

This has all been a very long process. Neil first announced that he was working on a Shire build in May of this year. So it took at least four months to complete, if not more. But the final result is stunning and a true work of art. In addition to this Shire wargaming diorama, real Terrain Hobbies has created some other amazing builds, almost all based on medieval and fantasy worlds. He even has some that are based on The Witcher. Be sure to head on over to Real Terrain Hobbies to check them all out.

Featured Image: Real Terrain Hobbies

The post THE LORD OF THE RINGS’ Shire Recreated as Huge Gaming Diorama appeared first on Nerdist.

Did you think The Hobbit‘s “Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold” couldn’t get any lower or more enchanting? Well, you thought wrong. Sometimes, the internet is a good place. And this is one of those times. Geoff Castellucci‘s cover of “Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold” will make your day.

Castellucci proclaims himself as a “simple guy that likes to sing and make videos.” But the truth is something far more magical than that. The singer possesses an incredibly low bass voice that he wields with precision. In this video, he perfectly brings to life “Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold.”

This song, originally written by J.R.R. Tolkien, appears in the book The Hobbit. It is also known as Thorin’s song. It is first sung by the company of dwarves, explaining Thorin’s backstory. But it also sets the scene of the adventure, awakening something in Bilbo. And now, we can see why. Though the song was done to perfection in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, more perfection is always better than less.

Geoff Castellucci

It certainly doesn’t hurt that Castellucci & Co. have fully embraced their best cosplay life. In the video, they wear costumes straight out of Middle Earth. And they look authentic but not over-the-top. A fitting homage to a Lord of the Rings song.

But ultimately, the singing trumps everything else. Castellucci sounds exactly how one might envision a Lord of the Rings dwarf to sound. His voice is low and earthy. At times it seems to vibrate preternaturally. We’d especially like to point out the low note at the 2:30 time stamp. And the astounding final chord that starts at minute 3:58 also resounds. They carry with them the full strength of the Mountain.

This arrangement already carries with it an immersive note. It sounds rich with history, as though it really were an ancient dwarven folk song. But add to that such a powerful voice, and the results are simply resounding. We’ll definitely listen to this “Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold” cover to get excited for the upcoming Lord of the Rings live-action series.

The post THE HOBBIT’s ‘The Misty Mountains’ Gets a Deep (Sexy) Cover appeared first on Nerdist.

Good news! You don’t have to light the beacons of Gondor to get news across the kingdom anymore. Instead, you can use a Lord of the Rings stamp to send a message… If you’re in New Zealand anyway. But you may want to buy some anyway, just to look at them. In news we first saw on GameSpot, NZ Post has released a brand new set of commemorative Lord of the Rings stamps. And these Lord of the Rings stamps are truly nothing short of breathtaking.

NZ Post

NZ Post Head of Stamps and Collectables Antony Harris shares that these stamps come in celebration of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’s 20th anniversary. He adds that 2001’s original run of The Lord of the Rings stamps proved to be immensely popular. This inspired NZ Post to circle back to the idea. Artists Sacha Lees, who worked on the films and on the original stamps, created the designs.

NZ Post

Harris shares:

Sacha has hand painted the stamp artwork, which depict favourite characters and scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring, such as Gandalf in Hobbiton, the hobbits in the Prancing Pony and Arwen rescuing Frodo, and epic scenes such as Gandalf’s battle with the Balrog and the Fellowship canoeing through the Gates of Argonath.

These scenes jump off the page, or rather, the stamp. Each one of them exquisitely captures a moment from the first Lord of the Rings film. Beyond that, they successfully evoke the sense of adventure and emotion that is at the heart of the franchise. These Lord of the Rings stamps bring the viewer right into the story. We can sense the fear the hobbits face as the Nazgul looms over them. The quiet peace of the shire jumps right out at us. And the Gates of Argonath leave our mouths hanging open. Not bad for a set of stamps! Much like hobbits, they may seem unassuming, but they can really pack a punch!

NZ Post

In making these Lord of the Rings stamps, New Zealand Post also honors the impact the movies have had on the country. Harris shares, “These stamps acknowledge that this iconic film is now a significant component of New Zealand history, culture, and identity.” A truly lovely homage. These stamps are now available. More collectibles, such as legal tender coins, are set to release between October and December.

For those curious, here are the original Lord of the Rings stamps.  The current run of Lord of the Rings stamps, sheets, first-day covers, and more are available on NZ Posts’ website.

As we look forward to Amazon’s new Lord of the Rings series, it’s incredible to look back at the legacy of the franchise.

The post LOTR Stamps Celebrate FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING’s 20th Anniversary appeared first on Nerdist.

If there’s one absolutely chilling sequence from The Lord of the Rings films, it’s the one where Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin nearly run headlong into a Nazgul. In many ways, this moment, eerily marked by the faceless creature leaning over the roots of a tree to sniff the air, is the true beginning of the film’s long journey. For hobbits and viewers alike, it solidifies a transition away from the cheery warmth of the shire and into something darker. And now, the moment itself is literally solidified in a new Lord of the Rings statue from Weta Workshop.

Weta Workshop

This new, limited edition Masters Collection statue, which we first saw on Gamespot, is a 1:6 scale statue. The official description shares that Brigitte Wuest and Gary Hunt sculpted the figure. Both artists have previously made many incredible Lord of the Rings pieces. They used both physical and digital techniques in their creation of the statue.

Wuest shares:

It’s such an iconic scene, so it was exciting to be asked to create this. I tried to capture the eerie silence when the Hobbits held their breath as the Ringwraith crept closer; his senses on high alert. You can even see the evil look of the Wraith Steed as it seeks to sense their presence too.

I really enjoyed sculpting the Steed in its solitary standing position, which had the potential to be quite boring, but with such drama in its face it comes to life and ends up playing an important part in the scene. The key was getting the right balance of tree and roots versus Wraith, Steed, and Hobbits. I believe each element is equally important but they also need to have their own prominence.

Weta Workshop

The Lord of the Rings statue distills the primary components of the scene to perfection. It even zeroes in on a moment of suspended action as Frodo fights with himself not to put the ring on his finger.

Weta Workshop

The “Get off the Road” Lord of the Rings statue goes on sale on August 16 with an edition of 500. The price of this item is not yet known. But one thing is for sure, it is a work of true art.

The post Impressive LORD OF THE RINGS Statue Captures a Chilling Scene appeared first on Nerdist.

“Paul Harvey the Flute Guy” loves playing the flute. Paul Harvey the Flute Guy—who’s also, dare we say, a mega-nerd like us—also loves The Lord of the Rings. Luckily for all of us who have elven ears and ache for the sounds of Middle-earth, Paul Harvey the Flute Guy has combined his two great passions into one in his cover of “A Walking Song” as performed by Pippin in the trilogy’s third film. And yes, it may make you teary eyed.

In the video above, Harvey begins the song as Pippin does in The Return of the King—with a lyrical rendition of “A Walking Song,” which appeared as a poem in Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. The lyrics, which Pippin sings to Denethor in the movie, are beautiful yet haunting. A perfect mix, of course, for one of the film’s more heartbreaking sequences.

Following his lyrical cover of Pippin’s song, Harvey dives into a flute solo that would make Galadriel start grooving. The musician and ironworker deploys his “walking stick” flute for the song, which gives it a fantastical je ne se quoi. (It’s the kind of music you’d hear when visiting a Longbottom Leaf shop, if you catch our drift.)

The mystical cover becomes all the more pleasing thanks to the sounds of trickling water coming from… somewhere. Perhaps a leak that Harvey and his co-workers should be fixing? We have no idea and couldn’t care in the slightest! The fact that the sounds transport us to Lothlórien is all that matters. Plus, pipes bursting in parking lots is kind of unavoidable, apparently.

In the Reddit post above, Harvey belts out another Tolkien tune, “Song of Durin,” on his Native American drone flute. The Song of Durin is also from The Fellowship of the Ring, but in the films, appears in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Harvey’s version is, of course, delightful, although there’s no trickling water to accompany this cover. Perhaps the flutist played this song after he and his mates had finished their work, and their Lembas bread.

Paul Harvey the Flute Guy

The post Ironworker Covers LORD OF THE RINGS Songs Beautifully with His Big Flute appeared first on Nerdist.

We all have that one friend who knows everything about their fandom of choice. The geek who can go deep on the socioeconomic histories of Star Wars’ inner rim planets. The nerd who can list offhand all the distinctions among DC Comics’ Earths Two through 5050. The fanatic who always creams the rest of the group at Seinfeld bar trivia. And when it comes to Lord of the Rings knowledge, few outrank Stephen Colbert. But sometimes, even the mightiest fall.

On Tuesday night’s episode of The Late Show, Colbert faced the challenge of his life: a stumper of a Tolkien trivia question. Delivering said question was a most appropriate pair—Merry and Pippin themselves, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd. The delightfully inseparable duo promised Colbert a mysterious prize in return for answering their riddles correctly. (Frankly, this sounds more like Gollum’s shtick than the shire’s most lovable rascals.) Now, Colbert knows a thing or two about Middle-earth. But even a fan of his caliber doesn’t know everything. Observe the fateful event below.

Luckily, the confident but humble Colbert had prepared for such an event—he had a bonus round at the ready. A surprise video call from Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson provided the group with a winner-takes-all question.

CBS

And after a rare moment betraying his mortality, Colbert reclaimed glory in the end. And as it should, glory took the form of Hobbit ears from the films’ production. And in order to prove that all was well between the dueling Tolkien diehards, they all engaged in a rousing Hobbit drinking song.

Those ears (and the joy of tune) were not the only prize that Colbert walked away with. The Late Show host was informally invited to guest on Monaghan and Boyd’s Lord of the Rings podcast. Their show, the The Friendship Onion, premiered in May, broadcasting weekly episodes filled with commentary, funny stories, special guests (Elijah Wood made an appearance on a two-part episode) and trivia. Perhaps Colbert will get the chance to prove himself the ultra fan once more!

The post Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd Stump Colbert in Tolkien Trivia appeared first on Nerdist.

One of the great joys of childhood is getting to splash around in your tub with your rubber duckies. When Ernie on Sesame Street sang of the joys of having a rubber duckie all his own, we all related to that as kids. But who is to say we still can’t have rubber duckies as adults? So what if that means playing with these kiddie toys in your bath tub as a grown up. We say have at it!

TUBBZ/Numskull Designs

Of course, if you’re nerd, you are going to want some duckies that reflect your geeky tastes. So we are here to tell you that there is now a whole wave of Lord of the Rings duckies to splash around with in (non-volcanic) depths of Mount Doom that is your bath tub, which we first learned about via Geeks Are Sexy.

TUBBZ/Numskull Designs

These four officially licensed Lord of the Rings rubber duckies feature some of the trilogy’s most iconic characters. We have Gandalf the Grey, Legolas the elf, the Dark Lord Sauron, and of course the ring-bearer himself, Frodo Baggins. These duckies are from TUBBZ, who also have ducks based on other famous pop culture characters like Batman, the Ghostbusters, and more.

TUBBZ/Numskull Designs

These are each designed and engineered by the merchandise experts at Numskull Designs, and they also come in a bath tub display stand. Hopefully these sell well enough that we get more characters. I mean who wouldn’t want a bathtub full of the entire Fellowship? I mean, these are trying times. We all deserve a little escapism in the comfort of our own bath tubs.

TUBBZ/Numskull Designs

You can order these Lord of the Rings rubber duckies now on the Numskull Designs website. They will only set you back $12.99 each. Oh, and when you kick back with your full Hobbity bathtub moment? We think this is maybe also best accomplished with your drink of choice from the Green Dragon Inn. Gotta complete the whole Middle-Earth experience, right?

Check out the full line in the gallery below.

Featured Image: TUBBZ/Numskull Designs

Originally published on May 20, 2020 with updates on February 23, 2021.

The post LORD OF THE RINGS Rubber Duckies Make Baths Epic appeared first on Nerdist.

The best thing about the Guinness World Records is that anyone can get their name in that prestigious book. With enough skill, enough tenacity, or enough money, you can formally establish yourself as the very best at a certain task. However, if you want to gain the title for the “Largest Mini Brick Build” ever, you’ll definitely need some help. A massive, record-setting diorama in China required a whole team of people working for years with a lot of little pieces. The only thing more epic than this undertaking is the source they looked to for inspiration; this incredible display was inspired by the battles of The Lord of the Rings.

Guinness World Records has announced that as of January 10, the children’s museum Smaerd Land in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China possesses the largest interlocking plastic bricks diorama in history. A work this epic required a theme to match. For that, the team went with J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Fans of the franchise will recognize some memorable locales and events from the novels and movies. By not just making this a static piece, which would have been impressive enough, the diorama has an energy to match the work that went into it.

But it would be impossible take it all in with one short video, or even one visit to the museum. You can look over this for hours and not see every single detail that went into it.

Guinness World Records

No surprise that a project of this magnitude, which measures 2,060 square feet in size, required a Herculean effort from the people who built it. In total, 50 designers and brick builders spent three long years putting the display together. That included installing 150 million (yes, million) pieces.

Obviously it was all worth it. Not just because they made it into the Guinness World Records book; something this incredible is truly precious.

Featured Image: Guinness World Records

The post Massive LORD OF THE RINGS Mini Brick Display Sets World Record appeared first on Nerdist.

There’s been a lot of talk this year about The Lord of the Rings‘ status as a Christmas movie. I don’t know that the trilogy is particularly festive content-wise, but it is something families tend to watch this time of year. Probably because the films—and their subsequent extended edition DVDs—originally released around Christmastime. They’re also great, big, comfy fantasy movies. The perfect escapism for this cozy time of year.

I won’t enter the “is it a Christmas movie” debate (because anything can be a Christmas movie, really) but I will admit I enjoy a trilogy binge this time of year. And once you’ve entered that world, it’s hard to shake. I want to live in Middle-earth, with all of its beautiful elvish cities, and warm hobbit holes, and feasts and pipes and smoking chimneys. And I’m certainly not alone. One of my favorite discoveries this year has been ambience videos on YouTube that capture the look and special feel of the world of The Lord of the Rings. Here are some of my favorites.

Ambient Worlds on YouTube

The Shire

Probably the coziest place in all of Middle-earth is the Shire, home of the hobbits. The houses are dug into the green, rolling hills and have adorable little round doors. Hobbits love living off the earth, and celebrations, and food—general holiday-esque merriment. Luckily, there are plenty of Shire ambience videos on YouTube. I’m particularly fond of this peaceful nighttime video from Ambient Worlds, who make some of the best Lord of the Rings ambient videos out there.

Ambient Worlds also made this two-hour-long Shire video that blends music from the films with chirping bird noises, soft winds, and other effects.

Or maybe you’d like to spend some time in a hobbit hole during a storm. If so, here’s a great, relaxing video from Escape Artist.

And if you really want to get into the spirit of Hobbiton, you simply must travel to the Green Dragon Inn. There, you can celebrate a harvest feast.

And for those looking for a perfect way to Christmastime, here’s an excellent hobbit Christmas fireplace video from ASMR Weekly.

Seriously, who needs a Yule log when you’ve got ambient Lord of the Rings videos to pull up on the big screen?

Ambient Worlds on YouTube

Rivendell

Now we head to Rivendell, home of the elves. This is another deeply soothing place in Middle-earth, with its lush waterfalls and twinkling energy. And lucky for us, Ambient Worlds has a few different videos set in this magical realm. There’s this magical sunrise video.

And also this general music and ambience video, set at nighttime.

The best ambient videos (in my opinion) incorporate some kind of rainfall, so this one is a particular favorite.

ASMR Rooms on YouTube also has this lovely, transfixing Rivendell waterfall video. This one is heavier on sound effects than music.

Rivendell is such a magical, wistful place, and getting lost there thanks to these videos is really special.

Ambient Worlds on YouTube

Elsewhere in Middle-earth

I won’t link to every single Lord of the Rings ambient video out there. Suffice it to say, there are a lot! You can head to Lothlorien, Gondor, the Misty Mountains, or pretty much wherever else your heart desires. We’re grateful to these excellent YouTube channels for creating this escapist art. It’s the perfect way to flee into a fantasy world this holiday season.

I’ll leave you with one last video—another gift from Ambient Worlds. It features my favorite of all the Middle-earth places: Rohan. Enjoy!

The post Get Lost in Middle-earth with LORD OF THE RINGS Ambient Videos appeared first on Nerdist.

Select cast members of The Lord of the Rings are banding together for a good cause. They’re creating a fellowship, if you will. Their mission? To save the home where J.R.R. Tolkien wrote the beloved books that would later become the hit movies. It all feels very in keeping with themes from The Lord of the Rings. Protecting one’s home at all costs.

Ian McKellen and John Rhys-Davies, who played Gandalf and Gimli in the films, are spearheading the mission. The Hobbit‘s Martin Freeman, singer Annie Lennox, and author Julia Golding are also part of the initiative. The team created a fundraiser called Project Northmoor to save 20 Northmoor Road. They hope to turn Tolkien’s former house into a literary center in honor of the author.

The group of famous faces recorded a video urging fans to help preserve Tolkien’s legacy.

The video also includes appearances by Tokien actor Sir Derek Jacobi, Lord of the Rings illustrator John Howe, former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Rowan Williams of Oystermouth, author Joseph Loconte, and TheOneRing.net‘s Cliff Broadway.

New Line Cinema 

The centre could become the first in the world dedicated to Tolkien. It would be home to retreats, writing seminars, and other cultural events. The team also hopes to launch an online program writers can virtually attend. Even better? Renovations would keep the house looking as it did when Tolkien lived and worked there.

If you’d like to donate to Project Northmoor, you can do so on the fundraising page here. The campaign hopes to raise $6 million total. It runs from December 2 to March 15, 2021.

The post The LORD OF THE RINGS Cast Is Trying to Save Tolkien’s Home appeared first on Nerdist.

There are lots of reasons J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth has endured and will continue to. Some find meaning in the author’s timeless themes of good and evil. Others love how the stories transport them to fantastic lands full of memorable characters and moments. And for some there’s nothing as enchanting as a world full of magic and wonder. But I really like the concept of second breakfast. Sure, swords, dragons, and elves are cool, but a society where second breakfast is not only socially acceptable but expected is exactly what I need. Which is why I am all in on this TikTok channel that serves as a themed cooking show for The Lord of the Rings.

Especially because it might be the most peaceful cooking show on the internet.

@cwlbuildsCornish Pasties! ##TikTokRecipe ##gordonramsay ##hobbit ##lotr ##cooking ##theshire ##fyp ##foryou ##cottagecore ##relaxing ##relaxing ##got ##diy ##dnd ##cosplay ##j♬ original sound – cwlbuilds

Caleb Levine, who bills himself as an actor, costumer, prop maker, and “all around crafty dude” has turned his TikTok channel into a magical Middle-earth cooking show. The 23-year-old serves up easy-to-follow recipes for the kinds of dishes one might expect to eat while wandering the lands of J.R.R. Tolkien. That includes takes on fictional recipes from the books.

Levine’s videos also provide hands-on examples. And while he might use modern amenities to cook and prepare them, it’s all done with a Lord of the Rings panache. Signs are written in an old English style, and he puts his costuming to work to enjoy the fruits—and meats—of his labor.

New Line Cinema

But what helps these transcend from being fun cooking videos into something special is their serene quality. Levine sets them all to peaceful, harmonious tracks, including frequently using the main theme from The Fellowship of the Ring.

@cwlbuildsLembas Bread, one bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man. ##lotr ##hobbits ##baking ##bakingrecipe ##fyp ##alwayslearning ##foryou ##xyzbca ##diy♬ Theme from “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (Concerning Hobbits) – Movie Sounds Unlimited

All of these videors are great, but you can easily guess which one is my favorite.

@cwlbuildsHow to Make Second Breakfast! ##theshire ##hobbits ##cooking ##lotr ##fyp ##relax ##xyzbca ##tolkien ##bilbobaggins ##finalsathome ##diy ##yummy ##breakfast ##howto♬ Theme from “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (Concerning Hobbits) – Movie Sounds Unlimited

Now that’s one magical recipe.

Featured Image: New Line Cinema

The post Eat Like a Hobbit with LOTR Cooking TikToks appeared first on Nerdist.

With summer now upon us, a lot of folks will be hitting their backyards for a little outdoor cooking. But why not bring your love of pop culture to the yard? Thanks to the folks over at Laughing Squid, we’ve learned about one very creative fan and metal worker named Danny Lyons, the creator of Trash Metal Fabrications. Lyons builds amazing wood-burning stoves and fire pits in the shape of characters and vehicles from some of our favorite movies and TV series. Not only are these hand-welded items meticulously crafted, but each one of them is made completely out of recycled materials.

Among his many pop culture-inspired creations are some wonderful additions from the galaxy far, far away. Not only is there a fire pit shaped like Darth Vader’s helmet, but also R2-D2 and even an Imperial TIE Fighter. Heck, if you really want a full Star Wars themed set up in your yard, you can add these right alongside your Millennium Falcon fire pit and AT-AT grills created by Burned By Design.

From the depths of outer space to the land of Middle-Earth, this fire pit of the Nazgul from the Lord of the Rings trilogy is ominous and cool.

Doctor Who fans will probably want to have this Dalek inspired creation, which is hopefully a silent one. Otherwise that might be a really annoying barbecue night.

Among all his sci-fi themed fire pits and stoves, there are also several planters designed to look like the beloved animated characters the Minions series of movies. But worry not, there is also a Minions wood burner, too.

The post Pop Culture-Inspired Fire Pits Make for a Nerdy Summer BBQ appeared first on Nerdist.

Whether you’re working, studying, trying to fall asleep, or simply looking for something to listen to, escape into some of your favorite fictional worlds with these soundtracks paired with ambient sounds. Fans mix sound effects and familiar video game soundtracks for a quiet yet stirring musical experience. This ambience can fill in the background while you work or transport you into another world complete with rain falling, fires crackling, and storms brewing.

Here are a few picks for ambient tunes and atmosphere from some of our favorite franchises.

Skyrim (Bethesda)

Haven (Dragon Age: Inquisition)

You might not think of the word “relaxing” when you think of the Breach that tears through the Veil between the land of the living and the dead, but the ambient sounds of the town of Haven are oddly soothing. Combining music from the epic game soundtrack with the rumble of thunder and howling wind, this hour-long journey back into Dragon Age: Inquisition is both melancholy and melodic.

Gryffindor Common Room (Harry Potter)

We want to go to there.

If you’ve ever dreamed of going to Hogwarts, just close your eyes and listen to the magic surround you in this ambient music video. Three hours of sitting by the crackling fireplace in the Gryffindor Common Room set to John Williams’ delightful score is a cozy way to make those hours of studying or working so much more bearable.

The Fields of Rohan (Lord of the Rings)

Looking for something a little more rousing and epic to motivate you while you work? Imagine you’re riding with the Rohirrim as the wind blows through the plains of Rohan, accompanied by Howard Shore’s now iconic score. The sweeping music and breathtaking sights of the grasslands of Middle-earth might be just what you need to make it through your next few hours of intense concentration.

Jedi Meditation (Star Wars)

Crackling fire? Check. Familiar notes composed by John Williams? Check. And Obi-Wan Kenobi? This is where the fun begins. Sit by the fire with the Jedi Master for an hour of meditation set to the score from all three trilogies of Star Wars films. Each piece is so beautiful that you might find yourself pausing work to feel the Force surround you before diving back in.

Persona 5

While the rain falling and songs from the video game Persona 5 on loop make this the most repetitive video on the list, it’s also the easiest to tune in and tune out to. Ten hours of the chill theme make this mix perfect for sleeping on those nights when you long to hear the tap of raindrops against the window.

Skyrim at Night

We could easily recommend any ambient music video on the Everness channel, but the sights and sounds of Skyrim are our favorite. Dungeons, taverns, cities, and the wilds of Skyrim are all at your fingertips thanks to these amazing playlists. (These also make great soundtracks for your next Dungeons & Dragons game.) You’ll also find amazing ambience and music from World of Warcraft, other Elder Scrolls games, and The Witcher 3.

Song of Storms (The Legend of Zelda)

If there’s one song that has to be played with the falling rain, it’s the Song of Storms from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This piano rendition of the catchy tune is a soothing dose of nostalgia for the days spent in front of the trusty Nintendo 64. It’s also just plain pretty.

What do you like to listen to while you work? Tell us in the comments.

Featured Image: Bethesda

Kelly Knox is a freelance writer in Seattle, WA who writes for Star Wars, DC Comics, and more. Follow her on Twitter.

The post Hours of Otherworldly Ambience To Help You Get Through the Day appeared first on Nerdist.

The Fellowship is coming together once again. This time The Lord of the Rings crew has a slightly less important quest than getting the ring to Mordor. But only slightly. They’re reuniting thanks to Josh Gad’s Reunited Apart series, and we feel blessed. This crew came together for an epic journey for The Lord of the Rings films in the early 2000s, and we’ve missed them dearly. Gad released a trailer for the upcoming reunion, and it’s full of exactly the kind of charm we were hoping for. Honestly, hearing Ian McKellen speak a Gandalf line again has us enchanted.

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” Don’t mind us sobbing over here.

This spectacular Lord of the Rings reunion is taking place Sunday, May 31, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET on Josh Gad’s YouTube channel. As the trailer indicates, we can expect to see Sam (Sean Astin), Frodo (Elijah Wood), Merry (Dominic Monaghan), Pippin (Billy Boyd), Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gandalf himself (Sir Ian McKellen). Gad mentions surprises, and Monaghan has kind of spilled the beans already. He posted this capture on Instagram Wednesday:

Now that’s a line-up. In addition the folks above, we spot Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Boromir (Sean Bean), Gollum (Andy Serkis), Eomer (Karl Urban), Eowyn (Miranda Otto), Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), and Arwen (Liv Tyler). Director Peter Jackson appears too, along with writer Philippa Boyens. Wow!

Just from the trailer alone, it’s easy to see the cast still has a lovely dynamic. Hearing them reminisce about their time filming will be an absolute delight. And let’s be honest, it will probably having us digging out our extended edition copies of the trilogy and rewatching.

New Line Cinema

Cast reunions have become popular during these times, but this one definitely takes the cake. Gad has already gotten several casts back together with Reunited Apart. The casts of The Goonies, Back to the Future, and Splash have appeared on the series so far.

This installment of Reunited Apart will once again be in aid of Disaster Philanthropy.

Featured Image: Josh Gad

The post THE LORD OF THE RINGS Cast Is Reuniting for an Important Quest appeared first on Nerdist.

While most folks who graduated from grade school probably remember making dioramas as kids, the odds that any one of them has done so as an adult seem quite slim. But maybe that will change after they see these ‘Book Nooks’ made by The Propping Block. The little slices of shelf art are not only spectacularly well crafted, but also reminders of how much fun it is to get lost in one’s favorite fictional worlds.

As of this writing, two of these Nooks have been posted to YouTube by The Propping Block, with one dedicated to The Lord of the Rings and the other to Harry Potter. In the Nook dedicated to the former, we see tiny Frodo making his way through Mount Doom while being stalked by Gollum. In the one dedicated to the latter, we get an extremely detailed peek at Hogsmeade.

Apparently the Nooks take about three weeks to make, and are created using the kinds of various materials that are core to crafty projects like these. The materials include, but are not limited to: popsicle sticks, snow flocking, sculptamold, dowels, and mod podge. What’s shocking, however, is the fact that the Harry Potter Nook was The Propping Block’s first attempt at making these novelty scenes. The Lord of the Rings one may be his second, although it’s unclear if he made more in between the two.

The Propping Block 

Unfortunately, there isn’t a ton of information about the person behind The Propping Block available on YouTube or any related social media account (there were none that we could find), but he has discussed his Nooks in various threads on Reddit. And we’ll go ahead and save you some time looking: There is no site where these fantastical yet cozy in-between-scenes can be purchased. But you can message The Propping Block, who goes by “granpappy” on Reddit, if you want one made for your favorite novel. Which hopefully has some greenbacks hidden in it, ’cause these Nooks don’t look cheap.

What do you think about The Propping Block’s Book Nooks? Which book would you like to see nook’d next? Let’s talk about the tiny scenes with the most potential in the comments!

Header Image: The Propping Block 

The post LORD OF THE RINGS Mount Doom Book Nook Scares and Enchants Us appeared first on Nerdist.

I was a freshman in college when The Fellowship of the Ring came out in theaters. Given that my attention span has always been about an inch long, the theatrical release was, at best, an aesthetically pleasing slog. I know I fell asleep in the IMAX during The Two Towers and the only thing I remember about my first time seeing The Return of the King is the pretzel bite/nachos coupon I forgot to bring. But what was once mildly entertaining drudgery has since given way to my healthiest coping mechanism: fandom.

I lost my mom and dad to cancer in 2017 and 2015, respectively. These soul-punching experiences were each traumatic in their own ways. Grief may have triggered my anxiety, something I’d rarely experienced before 2015, but my fandom helps keeps it manageable. It was my grief counselor who first pointed out the power of my fandom. Specifically, I’m told my love for Lord of the Rings is a Very Healthy And Mature coping mechanism. (I can’t be the only one who is relieved to hear this.)

And it’s not just coping. My understanding of the material has changed, too. See for yourself with these 12 things Lord of the Rings taught me about my grief:

New Line Cinema

It’s okay to want to be alone

That look Sam gives the flowers when he’s gardening as Bilbo’s narration discusses the simple lives of Hobbits in Fellowship of the Ring. He’s focused, then pleased, and it’s such a simple moment. Only since I’ve been grieving does it remind me that I have a green thumb that works even when/if I feel broken or incomplete. Getting back to being outside has been a wonderful part of grieving as both my parents had green thumbs too. This simple moment with Sam usually results in my working in the dirt.

New Line Cinema

It’s okay to admit I am exhausted.

I must have heard Bilbo say the line a dozen times: “I feel thin. Sort of stretched like butter scraped over too much bread.” But the first watch after my dad’s funeral struck a chord and dissolved any guilt I felt that I was carving out 11 hours for myself to watch the extended trilogy. Because that’s exactly how I felt! And this familiarity with Bilbo was validating. I was physically exhausted, not to mention emotionally and mentally tapped. And if Bilbo did what he had to do to recharge, so could I.

New Line Cinema

It’s okay to have no idea what’s going on.

Losing my parents was a slow but chaotic quiet. Grief can be overwhelming and exhausting. I am constantly learning how to navigate grief and leverage my fandoms in healthy ways. I’ve got to believe I’m doing it right. Because there’s no wrong way to grieve.

New Line Cinema

It’s okay be angry.

Every time I see the Galadriel entranced at the temptation of the Ring in Lothlórien, I get a bit more strength back. Everything changed after the loss of my parents. Galadriel’s give-a-crap rage is always in the back of my mind when I am facing a tough decision: leaving a toxic job, not putting up with harassment, going to bat for family and friends, establishing my boundaries. These things are very new to me and can be scary. But every time I see (or think about) that moment, I feel a little bit of that energy. It’s empowering.

New Line Cinema

Éowyn is my idol.

Éowyn cry-singing at her cousin’s funeral is affirming. She’s full-on ugly crying and it’s so public and raw and real and that moment continues to give me permission to let my emotions show in public (e.g. Target, the grocery store, the optometrist, gyno, and chiropractor are all places I’ve publicly cried without worrying about how it looks).

I was never like this. I’ve always been an emotional person, but never this public with my emotions. It’s very cathartic—not caring who might feel what about my public displays of grief. My grief doesn’t have a set schedule either, so being okay with crying no matter where I am saves me a lot of struggle.

Later, in the battle of Minas Tirith, Éowyn is grief-rage personified. This chapter in her story is pure recharging energy that translates into: “I don’t have time for imposter syndrome anymore.” A majority of my self-doubt has dissolved since I lost my parents. It’s very freeing.

New Line Cinema

It’s okay not to be okay.

Théoden crying after Théodred’s funeral always punches me right in the feels. But it’s Gandalf physically turning away to let him cry that reassures me: Gandalf doesn’t try to comfort Théoden. He doesn’t hush or hug or distract Théoden. He steps away. He gives Théoden space. He lets him grieve. Now that I’ve been through it, I know enough not to try to fix a grieving friend (I used to, because I had no idea. I just wanted them to stop crying). But grief has to—and will—take its course.

While my dad was in hospice, I could not bring myself to watch Théodred’s funeral scene. I’d skip it because it made me so uncomfortable, because I knew I was going to be ugly-crying-Théoden sooner than later. But after Dad passed, I was in the thick of mourning. Only then was Théoden’s scene a comfort. It was like, “Yeah, I see you Théoden King. I feel this. I get it.” Now? I can watch it all the way through. It’s familiar. And that real-life equivalent of the previously gut-wrenching scene is behind me.

New Line Cinema

It’s okay to feel like I’m getting pulled into a million pieces.

Sméagol telling Gollum to go away and never return may as well be a scene between me and my guilt. (Guilt over not being there when my parents died, guilt over living away from my family, guilt over not being able to prevent their illnesses, etc.) Those self-arguments were very harsh, destructive, and unhelpful until I started talking with a counselor. Before grief? This was a hilarious scene. Now? It is a sobering reminder that I have some solid ways to recognize and cope with the scary stuff.

New Line Cinema

It’s okay to laugh.

Gimli is the comic relief, and one I feel on a molecular level. Before losing my parents, I thought that guy was hilarious. Now that I’ve been through grief? I see Gimli as hilarious and necessary. Lord of the Rings is not a light story. He handles heavy things like I do. So, I am not a jerk for making my family play Cards Against Humanity after my parents’ respective funerals. Guilt and anxiety are the jerks.

New Line Cinema

Grief will set you free. But first it will make you miserable.

I’m destroyed during Return of the King when Frodo and Sam are half-dead in lava. Every time. But destroyed in a good way. It unclogs anything I’ve been holding back. It helps me cry and release any residual stuff that may have built up in the past days or eons. It also reminds me that some folks will be comfortable talking about grief. Again, it’s validation. I think, “Frodo felt like this! So it is normal that I feel like this sometimes too.”

New Line Cinema

It’s okay to discover, set, and enforce new boundaries.

My grief counselor encourages me to keep track of my triggers. And the multiple gut-wrenching endings in Return of the King are rough on me. So, it is a joy to shut the movie off immediately after the people of Gondor bow to the hobbits. My grief, my choice. I have boundaries. I know that now. Maybe I’ll be able to watch the theatrical ending again someday—but it is not this day. And that’s okay.

New Line Cinema

It’s okay to rethink my life choices.

Everything changed after my parents died. As odd as it is to admit, a majority of these changes have been good, much like Sam having the gumption to approach Rosie Cotton at the end of Return of the King! He would not have had that courage, or whatever it was, if he hadn’t been through hell and back. It’s another affirmation for me that everything changes after a loss. Everything recalibrates. Relationships, motivations, hobbies, goals. It didn’t happen immediately, or completely, but it was unavoidable. I changed. I leveled up.

New Line Cinema

Carpe the crap out of that diem.

“Strider” may not have been able to summon the Army of the Dead, but “Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir of Isildur” sure as heck could. Life without my parents is weird. At first it was painful knowing I’d never get back to normal. But now, it’s just a new normal. A year ago I wasn’t even Strider. I was Harry Goatleaf, the citizen of Bree who gets flattened by his own gate when the freaking Nazgûl tramples it. But not anymore. And even though there are days it doesn’t feel like I am okay, I am. I’ve gotten hints that I am healing. You’re reading one of them.

I don’t know how many hours I spent worrying that I was grieving wrong. But as it turns out, there are as many ways to grieve as there are nerds on this planet. So if your favorite fandoms, games, books, movies, Eldritch horror, or hobbies comfort you, lean into it. 

A few helpful grief resources:

At the time, I was too numb to understand how helpful these resources would have been. But I found a grief counselor with a site like this one. What’s Up is a mental health app that fills in the gaps between my counseling appointments, but there are others too.

Featured Image: New Line Cinema

The post How LORD OF THE RINGS Became My Grief Coping Mechanism appeared first on Nerdist.

Ah, invisibility. It’s super hot right now, thanks to the release of Blumhouse and Universal’s reboot of The Invisible Man. The Elisabeth Moss-starring horror film flips the script, spinning a tale of domestic violence around the titular invisible man, and working in a lot of apt metaphors in the process. It’s a stunner of a movie, and we can’t stop thinking about it. We also can’t stop thinking about invisibility as a fictional concept and all of the possibilities than contains.

To celebrate this week’s release of The Invisible Man, we compiled this list of cinematic characters who are also invisible—be it occasionally or permanently.

ABC Video Enterprises

Bilbo Baggins – The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and sequel series The Lord of the Rings deals with a powerful, magical ring that makes its wearer invisible to the naked eye. Or rather, wearing the One Ring transports said wearer to the spirit—or wraith—realm. So, it’s not technically invisibility in the exact sense of the word, and putting it on can alert evil beings to your existence. But it can also come in handy–just ask Bilbo Baggins, who throughout The Hobbit uses the One Ring to escape imminent danger. Later, in The Lord of the Rings, his nephew Frodo also uses the ring to go unseen.

Warner Bros. Pictures

Harry Potter – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Another popular character with a knack for invisibility is Harry Potter. In the first novel and film in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or Philosopher’s Stone, if you’re not American), the boy wizard receives a very handy Christmas present from Professor Dumbledore. It’s a invisibility cloak, one that used to belong to his late father. Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione use the cloak through the rest of the series to get out of trouble. In the final chapter, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, we learn that the cloak is actually one of the eponymous hallows, and—when paired with the Elder Wand and the Resurrection Stone—makes its owner immortal.

Sony Pictures Releasing

Sebastian Caine – Hollow Man

When you think of the filmography of Paul Verhoeven, chances are Hollow Man isn’t the first title that comes to mind. That’s because this 2000 sci-fi thriller was largely panned—despite it being the director’s second biggest hit, after Basic Instinct. The movie follows a scientist named Sebastian Crane (Kevin Bacon), who volunteers to be the first human test subject for an invisibility serum. The serum works, but Crane’s fellow scientists are unable to reverse the effects, which drives him to insanity and violence. The film was loosely based on The Invisible Man, and the similarities are definitely apparent.

Universal Pictures

Invisible Boy – Mystery Men

If you’re of the MTV generation, then you probably remember Mystery Men, the 1999 superhero comedy film that boasted an impressive soundtrack (including Smash Mouth’s “All Star”) and an even more impressive cast. The movie starred Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, Janeane Garofalo, Eddie Izzard, William H. Macy, Geoffrey Rush, Paul Reubens, and… we could keep going. It also featured Kel Mitchell—best known for his work on the Nickelodeon shows Kenan & Kel and All That—who played a character known as Invisible Boy, who can only achieve invisibility when no one is watching.

20th Century Fox

Millard Nullings – Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children 

Tim Burton’s built his career on a foundation of peculiarity, delivering original hits like Edward Scissorhands, Frankenweenie, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. When the new millennia rolled around, he started working his way through remakes and adaptations, including this live-action take on the novel of the same name by Ransom Riggs. It tells the story of a boy named Jake (Asa Butterfield) who goes to Miss Peregrine’s and is tasked with protecting the peculiar children who live there. One of these children is Millard Nullings (Cameron King), a young boy who is completely invisible.

20th Century Fox

Sue Storm – Fantastic Four

Comics fans are well aware of Sue Storm, a member of the Fantastic Four and sister of Johnny Storm, who is known by her superhero name: Invisible Woman. She acquires this title after she and her teammates are exposed to a cosmic storm, each of them developing powers. She’s able to pend lightwaves, which can render both herself and other objects invisible. Movie audiences will remember Jessica Alba’s portrayal of the character in the 2005 film Fantastic Four and its sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Kate Mara played Storm in the 2015 version of the film.

Universal Pictures

Harvey – Harvey

This 1950 classic film is based on a play by the same name by Mary Chase. It follows a middle-aged man named Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) who befriends a pooka—a mischievous creature from Celtic mythology—named Harvey. The invisible character presents himself as a giant bunny rabbit to Dowd, though others cannot see him and believe that the often-drunk and possibly mentally ill Dowd has made him up. The film deals with the possible existence of Harvey and what his existence—or non-existence—means for Dowd and the people around him.

Universal Pictures

Dr. Jack Griffin – The Invisible Man

The most famous invisible character is the Invisible Man himself, first brought to life onscreen in the 1933 Universal horror film of the same name. Based on the novel by H.G. Wells, The Invisible Man centers on a scientist named Dr. Jack Griffin (Claude Rains), who stumbles on a potion that makes him invisible—with one of the side effects being insanity. The film was a major success at the time and spawned the notable sequel, The Invisible Man Returns, released in 1940.

Featured Image: Universal Pictures

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2019 saw not only end of a decade, but of many of the current iterations of our most popular genre franchises. The Marvel Cinematic Universe as begun in Iron Man came to its rousing conclusion after 23 films with Avengers: Endgame. Then Game of Thrones ended after conquering the world and spending much of the decade as the most popular show on the planet. And after 42 years, the Skywalker Saga reached its conclusion as well.

But this is hardly the end of any of those series. Marvel, the world of Westeros, and the Star Wars galaxy aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. And most of your other favorites aren’t leaving the pop culture landscape soon either. This new decade will continue exploring those fictional worlds, just in ways we haven’t seen before. Here’s what the 2020s are going to bring to our most beloved stories. Also, there’s a little speculation on our parts for what the future might hold.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Marvel Studios

With Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans out of the picture,  Marvel Studios is heading into the ‘20s without their two biggest anchors. But that’s certainly not slowing them down. They’ve got Phase 4 already announced, and Phase 5 already planned. Between the big screen and Disney+, we will have over twenty distinct MCU properties over the next three years. That’s more Marvel content than we’ll know what do with in this coming decade. And before this decade is over, we will certainly see the X-Men and the Fantastic Four as a part of the MCU.

Game of Thrones

HBO

When Game of Thrones premiered on HBO in 2011, who would have thought that this very complex series set in a high fantasy world would become a global phenomenon? Or that it would even be considered a franchise, seeing as there is only the one book series from George R.R. Martin to pull from. But coming soon is an all new series for HBO called Fire & Blood, set hundreds of years before the events we just saw, focusing on the Targaryen conquest of Westeros. Another announced spin-off even shot a pilot, but HBO decided to pass. But if Fire & Blood takes off, don’t be surprised if they revisit the other spin-off too some day. We are definitely going to be seeing a lot more of George Martin’s world than ever before in the next decade.

The Walking Dead

AMC Networks

Game of Thrones wasn’t the only genre TV series that grabbed hold of the popular consciousness in the 2010s. The Walking Dead proved that even your parents could become totally invested in a George Romero-esque zombie TV series. With the addition of Fear the Walking Dead, the AMC series officially became a franchise. And despite no longer being at the peak of its popularity, the original show is still a winner for AMC.

The next decade will see a series of Rick Grimes-centric films starring Andrew Lincoln on AMC (and maybe movie theaters?), as well as another new spin-off currently in the works. And both the flagship show and Fear the Walking Dead aren’t going anywhere. AMC has no plans to kill this cash cow. And we’ll bet that somehow, come New Year’s Eve 2029, both Carol and Daryl will somehow still be alive and shooting walkers in the head.

Star Wars

Lucasfilm

At the beginning of the last decade, Star Wars was as dead as a door nail. Then in 2012, George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney, and the rest is history. We finally got the Episodes VII-IX, and although they were divisive among fans, they were decidedly not divisive at the box office.

But where does Star Wars go now that the Skywalker Saga is done? Well, anywhere it wants to really. Yes, we won’t see another Star Wars movie for nearly three more years. But we are going to have plenty of content from the galaxy far, far away before then. There’s the return of Clone Wars, season two of The Mandalorian, and new Disney+ series for Obi-Wan Kenobi and Rogue One’s Cassian Andor. And rumors abound of a sequel series to Rebels, focusing on Ahsoka Tano and the search for Ezra Bridger.

Of course, in 2022, 2024, and 2026, we are getting new Star Wars films. These will take place in a whole new era, disconnected from the larger Skywalker timeline for the first time. Current rumors suggest we are getting a series of films set 400 years before The Phantom Menace, during the peak years of the Republic and the Jedi Knights. This remains totally unconfirmed, but it would be a fresh era previously unexplored even in the old Expanded Universe.

The Wizarding World

Warner Brothers

The films based on J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels came to end in 2011 with The Deathly Hallows Part II, and everyone thought that was the end of that. There were no more books to adapt after all. But Warner Brothers and Rowling found a way to expand on the Wizarding World with the Fantastic Beasts series. The first movie was very successful, with the second one less so. There is supposed to be five films in this series, so expect to see the other three play out over the decade.

Beyond that? Although Rowling has denied it, we would be genuinely shocked if Warner Brothers didn’t have an adaptation of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in theaters by the end of the decade. And it will very likely be more than just one movie. While it might be divisive among fans, the play is an undeniable hit. And it is official Harry Potter canon. With HBO Max being a thing, surely a TV series is in the works too. There is almost no way this isn’t happening at some point. The world has not yet taken its last trip to Hogwarts.

The Lord of the Rings

New Line Cinema

Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Tolkien’s classic trilogy from the early 2000s changed the game for fantasy films forever. This past decade saw The Hobbit prequels hit theaters, and although they made a ton of cash, they were not as beloved as the previous films. But when those films wrapped up, the assumption was that was the end of any more live-action Middle Earth adventures.

Not so fast. Turns out, it’s just the beginning. Amazon Prime has begun work on a sprawling prequel series to the Lord of the Rings, set to start filming soon. Set thousands of years before the events of the films, this new series will focus on the events of “the Second Age,” and presumably the rise of Sauron. Many elements will probably come from Tolkien’s epic, The Silmarillion. The second season of the Lord of the Rings has already been greenlit, and expect much more beyond that. We will be spending much of the ‘20s  back in Middle Earth it seems.

Star Trek

Paramount Pictures

Although never as massively popular as that other space franchise with the word “Star” in the title, Star Trek has nevertheless been the little starship that could for the better part of fifty years. CBS All Access brought Trek back to the small screen with Star Trek: Discovery, and soon Patrick Stewart will return with Star Trek: Picard. And There are also several animated series in the pipeline, like the comedic Lower Decks.

And after having been stalled for some time, a fourth Star Trek feature film is in the works with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto returning as Kirk and Spock. It looks like the 2020s are going to be a repeat of the ‘90s, when we had multiple Trek shows on the air alongside with movies hitting theaters. The next decade has got a lot for Trekkers to get excited about.

DC Comics

The world of the DC Comics Universe might have taken a backseat to Marvel in the past decade, but it would be disingenuous to call it anything but a success. Sure, Batman V. Superman and Justice League seemingly derailed things. But no one can deny the box office power of Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Shazam!, and now Joker. Not to mention, the DC Comics-based Arrowverse practically carries the CW network, with six series based on DC characters airing at once.

Whether or not the DCEU carries on in its current form or not, the next decade has a metric ton of DC Comics content on the way. We’ve got Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman 1984 this year, and soon there will be The Suicide Squad, The Batman, Black Adam, Shazam! 2, and possibly even that long in development Flash movie. And maybe if we’re lucky, we’ll get a proper Justice League film in there somewhere too.

And while Arrow might be ending soon on the CW, a Green Arrow and the Canaries spin-off series is already in development. A Superman and Lois show is also headed to the CW. The DC Universe streaming service has already renewed Titans and Doom Patrol for further seasons, and HBO Max is bringing the Green Lantern to their new streaming service. The future is bright for fans of the vast DC Multiverse.

James Bond

Sony / MGM

Of all the franchises mentioned here, good ol’ 007 is the grand daddy of them all when it comes to live-action versions. Dr. No hit theaters in 1962, which means that in a couple of years James Bond will be celebrating 60 years on the big screen. This year sees Bond’s 25th film released, with No Time to Die. This will be Daniel Craig’s swan song to the world’s most famous secret agent. But it’s only a matter of time before we meet his replacement. The Bond films have bigger breaks between chapters than most franchises, but we’d be shocked if we didn’t get at least two other Bond movies in the ‘20s. But who our new Bond will be remains the big mystery.

Other beloved nerd franchises will no doubt continue in some form, from the hugely popular like Aliens to the more obscure, like Netflix’s The Dark Crystal. Whatever your favorite series is, there is almost no doubt you haven’t seen the last of it yet.

Featured Image: Lucasfilm / Marvel Studios / Warner Brothers

The post The Future of Our Favorite Franchises in the 2020s appeared first on Nerdist.

How would some of our favorite science fiction and fantasy worlds work in our real universe? Could J.R.R. Tolkien’s Arda really start out flat and still support life? Would a real-life human ever be able to stare at twin setting sunsets before heading off on an adventure like Luke Skywalker in Star Wars? Join Dr. Moo as she explores just how realistic these can be.

Thanks to The Outer Worlds from Obsidian Entertainment and Private Division for sponsoring today’s episode! The Outer Worlds is available now for PC, PS4, and XBOX One. You can learn more here: http://bit.ly/2qr5s5Q

The post Can LOTR’s Flat Earth Exist? | Because Space appeared first on Nerdist.

While gremlins, goblins, and Mr.Burns may think it sounds like a good idea, would a world without the Sun even be possible? Dr.Moo sheds some light on this dark prospect in this week’s Because Space!

The post Could We Survive Without the Sun? | Because Space appeared first on Nerdist.

That’s why we wanted to create a list celebrating franchise endings. Your mileage may vary on how satisfying our picks are, or whether they even work as true endings, but these seven movies stick out us as memorable, conclusive endings for major motion picture franchises.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 & 2 

Movies based on book series have a bit of an unfair advantage, we’ll admit. But it’s still possible for popular book series to fizzle out by the end (see: Divergent) and for films to follow suit, so it’s impressive that the Harry Potter series managed to end both iterations so well. Deathly Hallows is split into two films, but for the sake of this list, we’re counting two-part finales as a single ending. And particularly in this case, the choice to make the even split couldn’t have been smarter. Part 1 is an emotional character piece about our trio of heroes—Harry, Ron and Hermione—while Part 2 is an epic war film about the battle against Voldemort. It’s a perfect wrap-up of the seven-part series; even that epilogue feels well-earned.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2

Like Harry Potter, the Hunger Games series had the popular book advantage. Unlike Harry Potter, its finale was a bit more controversial, although not irrevocably so. The film version made some of the book criticisms—like Prim’s death and Katniss’ maternal life with Peeta—more tangible and appropriate for the story. Sometimes you need to visualize something for it to work, and in the case of Mockingjay, that was especially true. It’s a partially grim ending about the cost of rebellion, but it feels in keeping with everything that came before, and ended the series on the epic grace note it deserved. Overall, the Hunger Games film series remains an impressive achievement.

The Dark Knight Rises 

Many would argue that this film deserves no place on a list like this, while others would vehemently agree. But the polarizing actuality of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight series is part of its indelibility. There’s no denying how influential and lasting the trilogy still is, leaving a mark on the dark world of DC films, and inspiring filmmakers to go deeper in their characterization of superheroes and the world around them. Regardless of where you land on The Dark Knight Rises spectrum, you have to admire its Dickensian attention to bold storytelling. It also has a stellar final few moments, where we learn the happy fate of Bruce Wayne and see the passing of his important torch. It may not reach the heights of The Dark Knight, but Rises isn’t trying to be a follow-up so much as an ending deserving of the character we spent three movies with. In that way, it succeeds on almost every level.

Before Midnight

This may not fit the theme of the rest of this list, which is mostly loaded with blockbuster fare, but we can’t deny the lasting power of Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, one of the most beautiful and note-perfect franchises of all time. Told across three decades, this is the story of Ethan Hawke’s Jesse and Julie Deply’s Céline, an American man and a French woman who met and fell in love after a chance encounter in the first film, Before Sunrise. The films trail their love affair-turned-marriage, and the non-frills reality of making a relationship work. The final film in the trilogy is as perfect as the other two, and such a great way to say goodbye to these characters and their warts-and-all romance.

Breaking Dawn Parts 1 & 2

Yes, really. The Twilight movies get a bad rap. They’re arch and they’re camp, but they know it, and they deliver on every opportunity to have fun with the source material. The two-part finale is the Twilight series at its most ridiculous—there’s a vampire wedding, a vampire pregnancy, and a vampire baby, not mention all of the wolves—but also at its most perfectly deployed. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have gone on to be some of the most respected actors in their field, and if you watch these movies you can see why: These are actors who know exactly what they’re doing, and have fun doing it. Breaking Dawn is bonkers, and that’s the way it was always meant to be. It goes out with a bang.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Sure, there was a the mostly disastrous Hobbit prequel trilogy, and there’s an upcoming Amazon spinoff series on the docket. But when it comes to the Lord of the Rings as its own finite story, who are we to argue against this perfect trilogy? It really is a masterpiece of epic cinematic storytelling, and culminates with this breathless final act, that sees the Aragorn’s ascent to the throne, Frodo’s destruction of the ring, and multiple ending sequences that prepare us to say goodbye to these wonderful, magical characters that we love so. If you can sit through the credits without crying to Annie Lennox’s “Into the West,” you deserve an Oscar; this film has eleven, tied for the most Oscars any film has ever won.

Avengers: Endgame

We’re choosing to count Endgame as franchise ender because it did, ultimately, wrap up the story of the Infinity Stones and Thanos, a storyline threaded through the first decade of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s storytelling. Yes, most of these characters will continue on into new storylines—and new timelines—and many will make their way to Disney+ for specialized TV shows. But Endgame is the culmination of everything that came before it, and it was told perfectly. We’re still not over Tony’s death or Steve’s dance with Peggy, and we’re not meant to be. The recovery process will take a while, but that’s how all good endings should feel.

Images: Warner Bros. Pictures, Summit Entertainment

The post The 7 Best Movie Franchise-Enders appeared first on Nerdist.

While gremlins, goblins, and Mr.Burns may think it sounds like a good idea, would a world without the Sun even be possible? Dr.Moo sheds some light on this dark prospect in this week’s Because Space!

The post Could We Survive Without the Sun? | Because Space appeared first on Nerdist.

Unnamed Lord of the Rings Series  (Amazon Prime)

The Dark Tower (Amazon Prime)

The Wheel of Time (Amazon Prime)

His Dark Materials (BBC/HBO)

The Chronicles of Narnia (Netflix)

The Witcher (Netflix)

The Vampire Chronicles (Hulu)

The Kingkiller Chronicle (Showtime)

The Eyes of the Dragon (Hulu)

Images: Allen & Unwin / Simon & Schuster / Tor Books / Penguin-Random House / HarperCollins / Orbit Books / Ballantine Books / Viking Press

The post Which Fantasy Novel Based TV Series Will Replace GAME OF THRONES? appeared first on Nerdist.

This is one of those fancy app-driven board games. But don’t fret, for it’s not an entirely new concept fraught with bugs or precarious budding concepts. No, this is Lord of the Rings by way of H.P. Lovecraft, or more accurately, it’s a Fantasy Flight Games big box adventure game driven by the electronic DNA of Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition.

It’s a game as we’re used to, with many tiles–amusingly oddly shaped–plenty of cards, and even a nice selection of plastic Middle Earth miniatures. You will journey around an expanding area as you explore the countryside, encountering people and places and battling orcs and undead. It’s an adventure game in the same image as Talisman or Runebound or the recent Fallout board game. It does have the marked distinction of being a fully cooperative design.

These types of games are wonderful as they give a wide scope condensing miles of travel to mere turns. They tend to be very content driven, typically relying on huge decks of cards and grabbing many hours of your time to complete an epic tale. Journeys in Middle Earth is an attempt to smooth some of these quirks and provide a more immersive experience. Its weapon is one of the 21st century.

The free and necessary application is a pretty substantial iteration of the Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition version. The flow of game play is also similar, as you explore new tiles and populate them with points of interest–denoted by generic tokens. Instead of a stream of event cards or an encounter deck to plod through, the app spits out bits of story and prods stat checks. This is where the game really gets a mind of its own and seeks separation from its influence.

There’s a strategic layer that’s pretty enticing. Each character has a deck of cards built from several sources. Everyone receives a set of basic actions, as well as five for their character and three for their class. This notion of role is as it sounds, it’s very much a D&D-inspired occupation for your character to embody. There’s the Captain who is great at supporting and leading the group, the Pathfinder that focuses on mobility, the Hunter that wants to dish out the pain, and of course several others that are thematically on point.

This combined deck is shuffled and forms dual purpose. At the beginning of each round you will draw two cards and choose one to put into play. This may be spent at any point later in the game to perform a bonus action or influence a skill test. You can even leave it there for many turns and let your options stack up as each round you add to your tableau.

The one you don’t choose may be placed back on top of the deck or on the bottom. This is of key import because the game utilizes these tiny cards to resolve tests. No, you won’t find dice or anything of the sort, instead you draw a certain number of cards from the top of your deck and look for success symbols. Some feature a stoic leaf which allows you to spend Inspiration and convert them to successes. Inspiration is primarily attained from exploring, but can also be acquired through different events and in-game triggers such as pursuing side quests.

This card system is very solid. It’s not as dramatic as a dice pool, but it affords a more strategic layer to the game. You will manage your odds and struggle with micro decisions of keeping great cards versus placing them back on top to ensure success on the next test.

The deck is also tweaked slightly during play as certain story outcomes can add dead “weakness” cards to your allotment. Between scenarios you will spend experience you have earned to add better options and more varied abilities. You have the choice to even change to a new class and pursue alternate vectors during your character growth, ultimately resulting in a multi-class system that’s keen and certainly interesting.

Ultimately this type of content-driven game is heavily dependent on said content. The writing here is decent although not quite special. There’s a somewhat bare feel of Middle Earth which suffers due to operating in a time period outside–or rather between–the established fiction. The pace of the narrative and context for your action is adequate, but the decision to include a mixed cast of established protagonists detracts from the design’s potential. Just as Peter Jackson’s take on the trilogy feels a step distance from its source due to numerous tweaks and uncharacteristic shifts, this feels one step beyond even that, resulting in a developed fiction two degrees removed from its source material. This doesn’t snuff the whole thing out, but it does pose a challenge you must grapple with.

Variability is also a concern. Each scenario is randomly generated from an uncountable bushel of options, but the general feel is similar. The card system does provide a bit of a prod towards replaying the campaign and tinkering with new builds, but it’s only one facet of play and not the driving force. The format does offer two distinct scenario types of the more common overland adventure and a small skirmish on two boards with a touch of terrain. This helps vary the experience and present new challenges, but those hoping for the depth of a well-rounded or intricate skirmish design will not find it here.

This is a very prudent iteration of the Mansions of Madness experience with its own sense of atmosphere. The game system is a touch more complicated, although still pretty light, and it feels generally smoother in terms of how it handles enemy attacks and tests in the app. Those who abhor a phone or tablet interfering with their cardboard play will certainly not be converted here. Nearly every action in the game requires input into the device and translating that feedback to the group. Unsurprisingly, it works quite well as a solo endeavor as it’s very easy to handle two heroes and keep up with the flow of play.

The focus on the campaign format is a boon. It helps provide distance from other similar adventure titles and it also manipulates the incentive structure a bit. In addition to earning experience for completing the mission, you can earn lore for resolving side-quests and triggering events. Lore is later spent to upgrade your equipment which is a joy. This smooth system offers incentives such as trekking to that shrine at the Northern edge of play instead of following the bandit’s trail Eastward. It also provides reason to split your party at times which means everyone has something to do at larger player counts.

Overall, the app-based play is an improvement upon Mansions of Madness’s formula. There’s a general sense of refinement in systems and there’s a number of subtle tweaks. It possesses some of the inherent weaknesses of those ported mechanisms as well, such as the inherent lack of variety in enemy behavior. Its forefather has never solved this conundrum and its likely that solution won’t poke its head out of the Shire.

The bottom line is this is a story-driven game of mostly simple mechanisms with a touch of deck management depth. It’s not likely to grab those seeking overarching strategic variation as the narrative is somewhat linear and possesses minimal branching paths in the demo version I have tinkered with. Yet, for those seeking a Lord of the Rings cooperative adventure with a touch of flavor and an exciting heap of potential, this is certainly a design worth consideration.

I feel like I’m parroting my Mansions of Madness mantra, but Journeys in Middle Earth is a very solid design of quality fun, but its legacy is ultimately up to its evolution as a product and how it continues to integrate its technological advantage into future content.

More Lord of the Rings Goodness!

• Fantasy Flight Announces App-Driven Lord of the Rings Cooperative Game
• The Bombastic Lord of the Rings Miniatures Game
• The Fantasy RPG That Takes Lord of the Rings and Adds Zombies

Image Credits: Charlie Theel, Fantasy Flight Games

In addition to Geek & Sundry, Charlie Theel writes for Ars Technica, Tabletop Gaming, Player Elimination, and co-hosts the gaming podcast Ding & Dent. You can find him on Twitter @CharlieTheel.

The post JOURNEYS IN MIDDLE EARTH Is LORD OF THE RINGS Meets Lovecraft appeared first on Nerdist.

Susan Eisenberg (Wonder Woman), Kevin Conroy (Batman), Michael Rosenbaum (The Flash), George Newbern (Superman), Phil LaMarr (Green Lantern), & Maria Canals-Barrera (Hawkgirl), the voices behind the Justice League, join host Rob Paulsen to discuss the Justice League reunion campaign. Also, the Justice League becomes a fellowship when they read from Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.

On Talkin’ Toons, Rob Paulsen (Animaniacs, Jimmy Neutron, TMNT) sits down with his fellow voice actors to discuss their careers, the industry, and perform dramatic readings.

The post Talkin’ Toons with The Justice League appeared first on Nerdist.

Amazon’s billion-dollar Lord of the Rings series has been shrouded in mystery since it was announced in 2017. Early rumors said that the show would be centered on a young Aragorn, who was played by Viggo Mortensen in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy. But then Amazon created an official Twitter account for the show that seemingly contradicted that.

On February 15, the account tweeted out the first in a series of maps of Middle-earth. It was mostly barren, save some mountain regions and forests, but it did have a few hints that made it clear when the series might be set. As Twitter user @tolkienthot pointed out, the map must be set post-War of Wrath, due to the absence of Beleriand, a northwestern region of Middle-earth that was destroyed and submerged beneath the sea.

Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, pic.twitter.com/unJj1Bpde1

— The Lord of the Rings on Prime (@LOTRonPrime) February 15, 2019

That would place the series in either the Second or Third Age, something clarified as the account updated the map each week. Also of note: Each updated map came with a caption about the forging of the rings. In completion, they spell out the verse of the Rings of Power.

Three rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,

Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,

Nine for mortal men doomed to die,

One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne;

In the Land of Mordor where the shadows lie.

One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them,

One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them;

In the Land of Mordor where the shadows lie.

So will the new series be about the forging of the rings? It’s hard to say, but given the account’s most recent tweet—which looks like a finalized version of the map—we now have confirmation that the island of Númenor exists in the timeline of the new prequel. This is a pretty major detail. First, it means the series is almost definitely set in the Second Age, when Númenor rose and fell. And due to other locations on the map, it seems pretty likely that the show will tell the story of the establishment of Arnor and Gondor.

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them, In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. #LOTRonPrime pic.twitter.com/7TuQh7gRPD

— The Lord of the Rings on Prime (@LOTRonPrime) March 7, 2019

For those unfamiliar, Númenor was a mythical island raised from the sea as a gift to Men. It was inhabited by the Dúnedain, a race of man who thrived on the island, making it a place of great culture and thinking. It was destroyed near the end of the Second Age, but many of its people escaped, and went on to forge the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor.

via GIPHY

So does this have anything to do with Aragorn? Yes! In the Lord of the Rings books, Aragorn is the last of the Dúnedain and therefore the rightful king of Arnor and Gondor. So in a sense, the story will be a prequel tied to Aragorn… but will most likely be about his ancestors, not him.

Of course, all of this is just guesswork for now. We’ll know more when Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series hits the small screen sometime in the next year or two.

Images: New Line Cinema, Amazon

The post Amazon’s LORD OF THE RINGS Series Is Headed to Númenor appeared first on Nerdist.

Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy was a master undertaking, but luckily he had some animated predecessors to draw from. So how much did they influence his work? Hector investigates on this week’s Animation Investigation![brightcove video_id=”5990254083001″ brightcove_account_id=”3653334524001″ brightcove_player_id=”rJs2ZD8x”]Watch Animation Investigation every Thursday at 9AM PT/12PM ET right here at Nerdist.

The post How the LORD OF THE RINGS Cartoons Influenced Peter Jackson appeared first on Nerdist.

This past Valentine’s Day, we told you about an amazing artist named PJ McQuade. who made a series of greeting cards featuring some unexpected pop culture favorites sharing their romantic feelings. Now, thanks to Geeks Are Sexy, we’ve learned that McQuade is back with an incredible holiday selection of not only Christmas cards, but several geeky ornaments for your Christmas tree as well. Ever wanted to freak out a loved one with a Pennywise Christmas greeting? Or decorate the tree with Quint’s boat from Jaws? Now you can make that happen!There are examples from across the entire spectrum of beloved nerd properties here, ranging from fan favorites like Game of Thrones, Jurassic Park, and of course Star Wars, to cult classics like Labyrinth and Twin Peaks. And worry not: everyone’s favorite holiday classic Die Hard is included too!These cards are a labor of love for the artist, who told us, “I love creating these cards, and imagining the reactions people will have when they give them, when they get them, and when the recipient opens them. I put of lot of time and focus into the main front imagery, but the insides are as crucial. A chance for a surprise, a smile, a laugh, a memorable moment between two people.”These are all available now at McQuade’s Etsy shop, and you can check out more of his work at his website. You can also take a peek at a selection of his cards and some of his Christmas ornaments in our gallery down below.

Images: PJ McQuade

The post Nerdy Christmas Cards Offer Twists on GAME OF THRONES, DIE HARD and More appeared first on Nerdist.

Aragorn, Gandalf, Rudy, and all those little Bagginses are back. You may have never played it, but the Lord of the Rings miniatures game from Games Workshop was kind of a big deal. It presented a system that functioned in stark contrast to Warhammer Fantasy. In backrooms lined with unpainted miniatures and cast off terrain, this unique ruleset is often spoken of as one of the best GW has ever released.

Yet Lord of the Rings has sort of slowly faded on the backburner. It found a revival with the release of the Hobbit films as it was given its second major systems revision, although it benefitted from numerous incremental editions. Now it’s received a third. Battle of Pelennor Fieldsis is legit.

The game is now a consolidated brand – the Middle Earth Strategy Battle game – including both Hobbit and Lord of the Rings material. This boxed set kicks off the new era with a fist brandishing steel.

First things first we need to talk about value. This release is a bit insane. It’s one of the best value propositions Games Workshop has ever offered, including $400 worth of miniatures at a consumer MSRP of $150. We have Riders of Rohan, a ferocious troll, the flying Nazgul, and a smattering of infantry. Now, we have seen all of these sculpts before. Nothing here is truly new except for the fantastic Theoden models, including an option on foot or mounted.

Even more astounding is how complete this package is. In addition to the wonderful rulebook and bits and bobs like dice, you receive two full sized armies. In case you’re new to this sort of thing, a boxed set featuring a complete experience is virtually unheard of. Usually it’s just a taste of a full retinue of troops, enough to wet your beak and drag you into a serial line of purchases. Battle of Pelennor Fields is therefore quite the oddity existing as a full experience. And we’ll take it.

Of course, this is a game and it has rules – they’re quite good. Usually in this sort of thing, a player takes his turn by charging into melee and throwing handfuls of dice. You’re looking for a certain target number, for instance trying to roll a four or higher on a six-sider. In the Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game, both contestants roll a die or two and the individual with a higher single result wins.

So say you’re charging across the war-torn ground with Theoden himself. And you charge straight into a monstrous Orc, ready to tear off your head and gargle your blood. You both toss dice and maybe this lowly mudsucker bests you. Well, you’re not a run-of-the-mill soldier, you’re Theoden – the 17th King of Rohan, last of the second line of the royal house of Eorl. So you can adjust your result by spending some Might. Hero’s gonna hero after all.

This is a cinematic game. That mechanism of heroes spending a limited resource to nudge fate their way is representing of Tolkien authoring events, through player decision, and driving play towards courageous moments of desperate survival. It can certainly be a hero-focused game and you’ll find yourself wanting to expand things by adding Gandalf and the gang, but the system proves interesting even when running some scruffy swordbearers from the realms of man.

Supporting this cinematic feel is a strong dynamic flow. Units are presented in a more skirmish format, approaching a structure akin to Kill Team. That fight system will result in dramatic moments, but it’s actually surprisingly difficult to kill troops off due to the wound roll. This is compensated for with a commonly seen morale concept where your army faces possibly breaking and fleeing the battle.

A strong suit of this release is the four varied narrative scenarios. It features a wide range of tasks and objectives and keeps your eyes focused beyond just driving crooked steel into each other’s guts. Each builds upon the previous and introduces new rules and concepts to ease you into the full experience.

This set in particular seems a little more focused on recreating moments in the film version of the battle. The system as a whole is split somewhat evenly between allowing for narrative setups such as this and matched play in a more competitive format. Those seeking the latter will notice that the The Dead allied with Rohan here do not make particularly strong allies mechanically. Unless Aragorn is included on the side of good (a separate purchase) then they don’t take advantage of the full-blown ally synergy in the system.

The book does a good job of pointing the spotlight towards the future. It offers guidelines for expanding these forces and touches on the rebranded system as a whole. Games Workshop stores will be stocking the plastic kits again and this feels like a fully supported product that’s intended to be lifted off the shelf and played.

This is a fantastic entry point into an underrated nook of the Games Workshop empire. It’s a cinematic system that offers a unique experience, functioning as a blend of skirmish and larger forces. Anyone sitting at that cross-section of Tolkien fan and miniatures gamer will eat this right up. Thankfully, we now have a way to get back to saving Middle Earth.

Have you played the Lord of the Rings Miniatures Game? Let us know in the comments!  And be sure to join host Becca Scott on Game the Game every Thursday here on Geek & Sundry to watch the best boardgames played with fantastic guests!

More Lord of the Rings Goodness!

• This Fantasy RPG Takes Lord of the Rings and Adds Zombies
• Favorite Minor Characters From Lord of the Rings
• Bring the Lord of the Rings Trilogy to your Tabletop With War of the Ring

Image Credits: Games Workshop

Editor’s note: A sample of the game was provided by the publisher

In addition to Geek & Sundry, Charlie Theel writes for Ars Technica, Tabletop Gaming, Player Elimination, and co-hosts the gaming podcast Ding & Dent. You can find him on Twitter @CharlieTheel.

The post BATTLE OF PELENNOR FIELDS is the Bombastic Relaunch of THE LORD OF THE RINGS Miniatures Game appeared first on Nerdist.

Age of Empires II was released almost two decades ago.

But that doesn’t mean people aren’t interested in it anymore. A recently released fan-made Lord of the Rings mod has brought new life to this classic game by importing characters, races, and locations from J.R.R Tolkien’s epic saga. It’s been a passion project for six years, and now a near-final build is available.

Via Kotaku, the mod is called Tales of Middle-Earth; it features 18 realms from Tolkien’s novels as well as multiple factions, including the Men of the West, the Elves, the Rohirrim, Southrons, and the Easterlings. But if your alignment is more with Sauron, you can take control of his forces in Mordor and Angmar, home of the fearsome Witch-king of the Nazgûl.

It should be noted the Tales of Middle-Earth mod isn’t finished yet, but it is fully playable. It also goes beyond the scope of the novels by chronicling events from the Fall of Beleriand to the War of the Ring. It will allow players the chance to recreate many of the epic battles from both the books and the films. The mod even includes the Rangers of the North as well as the giant Mûmakil/Oliphaunts. This creation has so much depth it could almost be an official release.

For more intel on the Tales of Middle-Earth mod, you can check out the project’s official page.

Are you excited about the prospect of revisiting Middle-earth in this LOTR mod? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: ModDB

The post AGE OF EMPIRES II Gets a LORD OF THE RINGS Mod appeared first on Nerdist.

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In Lord of the Rings, Sauron was represented by the Great Eye or Eye of Barad-dûr, but how actually vast was his sight? Kyle takes a closer look on this week’s Because Science!

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After slaughtering the diamond, golf, and oil industries, what worlds are left for millennials to conquer? According to a new report, it may be the One Ring to Rule Them All industry as Amazon’s insanely expensive Lord of the Rings TV series will reportedly follow the adventures of young Aragorn, the badass ranger played by Viggo Mortensen in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

[BREAKING] We have confirmed from multiple sources that @AmazonStudios new billion-dollar #LOTR series will open its first season centered on a young Aragorn.

Let’s discuss whats available and how this opens up Tolkien’s Legendarium. A thread. #Tolkien
/1 pic.twitter.com/mfbkf4jyX6

— TheOneRing.net (@theoneringnet) May 16, 2018

The news comes courtesy of TheOneRing.net (via Slashfilm), who tweeted on Wednesday that multiple sources have confirmed to them that the billion-dollar Lord of the Rings TV series‘ first season will center on a young Aragorn. The report goes on to say that the show will not be a retread of the events of the War of the Ring, and will be focused on the events found within the Appendices, which gives a wealth of material for the TV show to explore.

My working theory is that, if this report is reliable, the show will track Aragorn as he is fostered by Elrond in Rivendell, following the young heir as he learns the truth of his royal blood all the way, meets and falls in love with Arwen, and becomes the Chieftain of the Dúnedain, a.k.a. the Rangers of the North.

Can’t you just picture it? A teen Aragorn adopting the Myspace-worthy name of Strider (or Estel or Thorongil…), spreading some fantasy avocado on lembas bread, and rollicking around Rivendell while Elrond tries desperately to keep his teen ward’s true lineage a secret. It practically writes itself!

What is also fascinating about this report is that it specifies that only the show’s first season will focus on Aragorn. Previous reports confirmed that the show will have at least five seasons–hence the billion dollar price tag–which, as Slashfilm notes, seems to indicate that it could be taking an anthology-style approach to exploring the rich fantasy world of J.R.R. Tolkien. We’ll continue to update this story as it develops, but in the meantime we’ll just be rewatching the extended edition of The Two Towers on repeat.

What do you think of this news? What would you like to see from Amazon’s Lord of the Rings TV series? Who should play Young Aragorn? Let us know in the comments below!

Images: Warner Bros.

The science of Legolas walking on snow

The post LORD OF THE RINGS TV Series Will Follow Young Aragorn (Report) appeared first on Nerdist.

Valentine’s Day is only ten days away, and it’s time to start thinking about cute and creative ways to show that special someone in your life you are thinking about them. This can be a holiday that puts a lot of pressure on people, and you can alleviate that by giving your significant other a unique Valentine’s Day card. While it’s always nice to find a Valentine that says something meaningful, like a poem or a sage words of wisdom, sometimes the best option for a card is channeling your loved one’s favorite fandoms.

Neatorama clued us in to a line of awesome cards from PJ McQuade. Each one is illustrated by McQuade, and the collection features a wide range of iconic figures from some of the biggest franchises in pop culture. What makes this line of cards so great is that the characters featured on the cards aren’t always the one you’d naturally assume would grace the front of a Valentine. While there are some faces you’d expect to see on a geeky Valentine like Jeff Goldblum from Jurassic Park and Jareth from Labyrinth, there are also some unexpected appearances like Hodor, Gollum wearing a bow tie and holding a box of chocolates, and Yoda as a cupid.

It’s the perfect unique, geeky line of cards that are certain to win the hearts of anyone this Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re getting these cards for a significant other or a good friend for Galentine’s Day, these cards are sure to put a smile on someone’s face this February 14. You can find the cards in McQuade’s Etsy shop. View a few more card designs in the gallery below.

Which cards are your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

Images: PJ McQuade

Stay in the mood for love with these stories!

• Woo with a bouquet of bacon roses.
• Make some undead Valentine’s Day pudding.
• Death Star Valentine’s cookies.

The post Spread Valentine’s Day Love with Dr. Ian Malcolm and Jareth the Goblin King appeared first on Nerdist.

“There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world.“

– J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

The world of Middle-earth is full of all manner of otherworldly horrors, ranging from firebreathing dragons to vengeful wraiths to massive fiery demons that shall not pass. However, while there are older and fouler things in J.R.R. Tolkien’s rich fantasy world, one of the most persistent and ugliest threats to Middle-earth at the Orcish hordes murdering, pillaging, and fighting on behalf of Sauron. In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, you’ll take on the role of Talion, a ranger of Gondor infused with the spirit of the elf lord Celebrimbor, and do battle with Uruks, Ologs, and all manner of orcs. But what if instead of a heroic ranger with supernatural powers, you wanted to be an orc instead?

To celebrate the release of Middle-earth: Shadow of War, Warner Bros. Interactive summoned one of their most powerful makeup artists to our office to polymorph our Nerdist News and Bizarre States hostess with the mostess Jessica Chobot into one of the murderous, bloodthirsty orcs you might encounter in the game. After spending several hours in the makeup chair, Jessica completed her metamorphosis and the results were intimidating to say the least. She even hosted Nerdist News Talks Back in full orc regalia! Watch out, Talion; somehow we think Jess will become a fearsome warlord in no time.[brightcove video_id=”5618383907001″ brightcove_account_id=”3653334524001″ brightcove_player_id=“rJs2ZD8x”]

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, iOS, and Android.

What would your orc name be? Let us know in the comments below.

The spookiest stories on Nerdist right now…

• The science behind how Ouija boards actually work
• How to watch every Treehouse of Horror episode of The Simpsons
• The Hateful Eightsecretly a horror movie is

Welcome to Nerdoween! Throughout the month of October, we’ll be celebrating everything spooky, macabre, and just plain weird. Nerdoween 2017 is presented by Alpha, our interactive membership service, which offers you exclusive content from Nerdist and Geek & Sundry, as well as a 10% discount on all of our merch.

—

Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author of books about Star Wars and the Avengers. Follow him on Twitter (@DanCasey).

The post Watch Jessica Chobot Transform Into an Orc from MIDDLE-EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR appeared first on Nerdist.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve fallen asleep while reading. Thanks to Brassington Hollow, I could have a plush, pillow version of a book under my head to balance the sting of dropping an actual book on my face. The owner of the shop, Shanon Smith, turns book covers into hand-sewn pieces of art with cotton fabric and foam stuffing. The handmade items came to our attention via Geeky Merch, and I love the idea of literally cuddling with my favorite literary titles–titles like Neil Gaiman’s American Gods.

Each book has a fabric cover that you can open to read the first page. The inside cover usually has quote from the book. Smith’s made book pillows from multiple genres, including works from the likes of everyone from Jane Austen to J.K. Rowling. For example, if you like trekking through Middle-earth, Smith has crafted the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit pillows. The fellowship that volunteered to accompany Frodo to Mordor would have loved to get their hands on something this soft and lush for the long journey.

Scroll down to see more photos of Brassington Hollow’s creations, and then go visit the shop on Etsy to look through the available book pillow options. They have some titles ready to ship, and they take custom orders if you don’t see the story you want. Could you imagine covering your sofa in all the Harry Potter books? Accio comfort!

Which of these book pillows catches your fancy? Would you actually sleep on them? Flip the page and head to the comments to let me know.

Images: Shanon Smith/Brassington Hollow

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

Read more stories about books!

• The Die Hard Christmas book.
• Invest time in the Hamilton archives.
• An illustrated release of Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere.

The post Fall Asleep on Handmade Book Pillows While Reading appeared first on Nerdist.

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Elves have many magical qualities especially in Lord of the Rings, even walking on top of snow, so just how dense would Legolas have to be to do it? Kyle has the elvish science on this week’s Because Science!

Special thanks to Tor Books, the proud publisher of Autonomous by Annalee Newitz. Don’t miss the highly anticipated science fiction debut from the founder of io9, available now wherever books are sold.

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Harry Potter, Gandalf, and Daenerys compare magical creatures and powers on this episode of Toy Shelf!

Director : Andrew Bowser
Producer: Jason Nguyen
Prod. Coordinator: Erik Kozura
Written by : Joan Ford
Director of Photography : Russell Bell
Prop Master : Adam Nungester
Editor/Animator: Tim Herrold

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