Latest news with #Hobbit
ITV News
a day ago
- Business
- ITV News
James Nesbitt 'disappointed' at closure of 'iconic' Coleraine theatre where career began
Hollywood actor and Coleraine native James Nesbitt says he is 'disappointed' over a decision by Ulster University to close the Riverside Theatre. Nesbitt, who honed his craft at the venue and was Chancellor of the university for 10 years also expressed his sadness at the long term reduction in arts investment across the North West. Ulster University says the cost of running the theatre does not align with their academic goals and available funding stating the building would require significant capital investment to remain in use, with refurbishment works estimated to cost nearly £750,000, in addition to annual running costs of almost £500,000. The Riverside Theatre at Ulster University's Coleraine campus has been at the heart of performing arts in the town since it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II almost 50 years ago. Its stage has been graced by the likes of Liam Neeson and of course James Nesbitt. After hitting the stage in Coleraine, he went on to superstardom with hits including ITV's Cold Feet and the Hobbit movies. In January 2025, the university announced that it was looking into how the theatre was funded. In March it proposed Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council consider a lease agreement for the venue with a meeting expected to take place in June. However on 29 May the university announced the closure in August. Mr Nesbitt expressed his sadness at the closure: 'It's so disappointing that the university of which I was Chancellor for 10 years finds itself in the position that it feels it necessary to close this iconic arts venue which was the launch pad of my career. "However, I'm also disappointed in the long- term reduction in investment in the arts by the arts council, the NI Executive and the local authority in performing arts in the North West. "I think the agencies involved need to get together to invest in the future of the arts in this community. It will be sorely missed.' Mr Nesbitt is not the only one disappointed by the news of the theatres imminent closure. A protest outside Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council offices in Coleraine is planned while a petition to save the venue has got more than 3,500 signatures. In a statement Ulster University added: "We remain focused on the university's core purpose: to deliver high-quality teaching and impactful research across our multiple campuses; and in the face of unprecedented financial challenges, with the funding model in Northern Ireland acknowledged as unsustainable, it is more important than ever that we focus our resources on core academic activities. "Having supported and delivered this civic asset for 50 years, the building itself has now come to the end of its life and requires significant capital investment to remain in use. "This is estimated at £745,000 in the immediate term alone and is in addition to the annual running costs of £495,000. "While we appreciate that this news will come as a disappointment to many, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the artists, audiences, staff, and supporters who have made the Riverside Theatre such a special place for so many years." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
E-bike rider slams into 3-year-old girl in NYC, knocking her off her feet in caught-on-camera incident
Frightening video that has surfaced shows the moment an e-bike rider slammed into a three-year-old girl while she ran toward a Brooklyn bike lane. The incident took place over the weekend, the New York Post reported. The video, shared on X by Williamsburg 365 News, shows the unaware child scurrying into the lane at Bedford and Park avenues around 7:40 pm. She appeared to have stepped out of a double-parked car with a man before walking into the lane when she was struck by the cyclist. According to police, the skirt-and-sweater-wearing girl was just miraculously sideswiped while the biker headed south on Bedford Avenue. The toddler, however, was knocked off her feet. The man who was accompanying the tot was just steps behind her when she was hit. After the accident, the man quickly swooped her into his arms. A woman was seen getting out of the double-parked car. The incident left the girl with minor injuries to her lower stomach. She was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, according to police. The cyclist was a 22-year-old man, and was seen with a bag hanging on the back of his ride. He may have been a delivery driver. He stayed at the scene, and was not arrested. Many commented on Williamsburg 365 News' video on X, with one user writing, 'People gotta look after their kids at all times, these bikers are reckless, stop playing with words to score political points Lincoln you.... Hobbit!' 'obviously the parent is at fault here,' one user wrote, while another said, 'Once again, the parking remains the problem, not the bike lane'. 'Arrest the parents,' one user wrote, while another said, 'Kid ran right into the bike. Why isn't the Frummie Daddy being admonished?' 'So terrible! Any chance you know the exact location and time that this happened?' one user asked.
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Hobbiton Movie Set receives Guinness World Record for largest purpose-built film set
' Visitors to Hobbiton Movie Set are often blown away by the scale of the movie set and the detail they kept in the gardens and Hobbit holes nestled into the hillsides of The Shire, so to be recognised for this is fantastic'. The set was originally created in 1999 over nine months after Sir Peter Jackson's team of location scouts fell in love with the Alexander family's sheep and beef farm in the rolling green hills of the Waikato countryside a year earlier. The set was built with the help of the New Zealand Army, and soon 39 Hobbit Holes were taking shape. Filming for the Lord of the Rings trilogy started in December 1999 and took about 15 months. After filming wrapped up, the set was meant to be demolished, however, before the entire set could be taken down, the Alexander family intervened and 17 bare plywood facades remained. In 2009, Jackson returned to film the trilogy of The Hobbit movies and he left behind the set visitors see today, including 44 permanently reconstructed Hobbit Holes. Since then, the set has grown further to include the cafe The Green Dragon Inn in 2012 and two interior Hobbit Holes in 2023. WingNut Films chief executive and representative from Sir Peter Jackson's office Carlos Ramirez Laloli said they were 'thrilled' to hear about the record. 'This achievement is a testament to the care and dedication that Russell [Alexander], Shayne [Forrest], and the entire Hobbiton team demonstrate in their custodianship over the property,' Laloli said. 'We hope that this well-deserved recognition will lead to many more people taking their own unexpected journey's to experience the magic of Hobbiton.' A spokesperson for Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said the world record was great news. 'This is great recognition for an iconic New Zealand tourism attraction, and one we're very proud to have in the Waikato. 'We know people love it, the effort which goes into maintaining the set, and of course the creative energy behind the movies themselves.' On her social media page, Upston said it was a 'very cool' recognition. 'Great recognition for one of New Zealand's most iconic attractions. Hobbiton brings in over half a million visitors a year, helping boost tourism and grow our economy.' Matamata-Piako Mayor Adrienne Wilcock said the record confirmation was 'awesome news' for the local community and the wider Waikato. 'Hobbiton is already a magical place nestled in the heart of Matamata farmland, and being named the largest movie set in the world is just the icing on the cake. It's a huge credit to the team at Hobbiton — their passion, hard work, and vision have turned a film set into one of New Zealand's most iconic destinations," Wilcock said. 'It's the kind of recognition that draws even more visitors to experience the magic of The Shire, and with Jetstar starting international flights into Hamilton in June, the timing couldn't be better. I'm sure the benefits will be felt across our local economy and through the whole Waikato region.' Hamilton and Waikato Tourism chief executive Nicola Greenwell congratulated the Hobbiton team on the achievement. 'While Guinness World Record have acknowledged Hobbiton Movie Set for being the largest, in our opinion, it is also the most magical,' she said. 'The team at Hobbiton Movie Set are masters at providing exceptional visitor experiences ... It doesn't matter if you have been to Hobbiton Movie Set before or if you are a new visitor, the magic continues.' Waikato Herald. She joined NZME in 2021 and is based in Hamilton.
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
How a Hollywood legend lost $450 million as he didn't get the script, was forced into retirement after financial blunder
When Peter Jackson made the Lord of the Rings trilogy, not many supported what was seen as a 'crazy idea'. The books were considered hard literature, and many called them unfilmable. The plan of doing all three films back-to-back was also seen as excessive. On top of it all, the shoot took place almost entirely in New Zealand, thousands of miles away from Hollywood. Naturally, many top stars did not come on board. But the one who regretted it the most was former James Bond star and screen icon Sean Connery. The actor rejected the offer to play Gandalf in the films, and along with it, a multi-million dollar paycheck. Sir Sean Connery was offered the role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings. As one of the most recognisable faces in the cast, he was to receive the highest pay as well. But Connery turned down the offer. According to IMDb, he did so due to "not understanding the story and the script". In the end, Ian McKellen came on board and made the role his own, reprising it in the Hobbit trilogy as well. Peter Jackson had offered Connery $10 million per film plus 15% of the trilogy's gross for the role (that is, 15% of the studio's take, or 7.5% of the total gross). In the end, Lord of the Rings trilogy grossed $2.9 billion worldwide. This would have given Connery earnings of $450 million for the film. Sean Connery was in his early 70s at the time. After Lord of the Rings became a global blockbuster, he regretted turning the film down. According to reports, he told his agents that if another IP-based script came in for him, they could say yes even if he did not understand the story. He was, reportedly, trying to avoid repeating a mistake. Through this process, Connery signed Stephen Norrington's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The 2003 release received extremely bad reviews but managed to be somewhat financially successful. However, Connery was so disheartened by the turn of events that he never acted again. He died in 2021, at the age of 90.
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
WB confirms 2027 release for ‘The Hunt for Gollum'
Warner Bros has officially announced the release date for its upcoming 'Lord of the Rings' spinoff film, 'The Hunt for Gollum'. The much-anticipated prequel is scheduled to hit cinemas on December 17, 2027. Set before the events of Peter Jackson's acclaimed 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, the film is based on the appendices written by J.R.R. Tolkien and follows Aragorn's secret mission, commissioned by Gandalf the Grey, to track and capture Gollum, who is in possession of the One Ring. Andy Serkis is confirmed to reprise his iconic role as Gollum and is also rumoured to direct the project. While Ian McKellen is speculated to return as Gandalf, there has been no official confirmation regarding Viggo Mortensen's involvement as Aragorn. The announcement comes amid a mixed legacy of 'Lord of the Rings' spinoffs. Peter Jackson's 'Hobbit trilogy', though initially promising, was criticised for being unnecessarily stretched. More recently, Amazon's 'The Rings of Power' series drew a lukewarm response, with early intrigue giving way to audience disappointment. With the franchise's track record in recent years, fans are approaching 'The Hunt for Gollum' with cautious optimism. Whether this latest foray into Middle-earth will recapture the magic of the original films remains to be seen. One thing is certain: Tolkien enthusiasts will be watching closely as Middle-earth returns to the big screen in 2027.
