Available at Mass and Specialty Retailers Nationwide Fall 2012
New York, June 5. 2012 – Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Pressman Toy today announce two exciting new games, based on The Lord of the Rings blockbuster trilogy and the highly anticipated The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Both games will be available at retail this fall.
The deluxe The Lord of the Rings game incorporates story elements from all three fan-favorite films – The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Similarly, the new The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey game is based on the highly anticipated film directed by Peter Jackson and produced by New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), set to be released on December 14, 2012.
“We’re excited to partner with Pressman to offer board games inspired by The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey that will entertain the whole family,” said Kelly Gilmore, senior vice president, Global Toys and Themed Entertainment, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “These games capture the essence of the films and give fans the chance to engage and interact with many of their favorite cinematic moments.”
“The enduring popularity of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the excitement around The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has made it a phenomenon that we are thrilled to be a part of,” said Jim Pressman, president of Pressman Toy Corporation. “Our games will be based on these films, bringing the experience to homes with an intricate and stimulating game play that will stay true to their essence and be enjoyed by even the most die hard fans.”
Pressman Toy’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Board Game and The Lord of the Rings Board Game-Deluxe Version will be available for purchase at mass and specialty retail locations this fall.
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About The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of two films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit. The second film will be The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Both films are set in Middle-earth 60 years before The Lord of the Rings, which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released beginning December 14, 2012. The second film, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is slated for release the following year, beginning December 13, 2013.
Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins. Also reprising their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” movies are: Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Ian Holm as the elder Bilbo; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; Orlando Bloom as Legolas; and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The ensemble cast also includes (in alphabetical order) Richard Armitage, John Bell, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Barry Humphries, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Evangeline Lilly, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Jeffrey Thomas, and Aidan Turner.
The screenplays for both The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again are by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro. Jackson is also producing the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again are productions of New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television licensing, being handled by MGM.
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
About Middle-earth Enterprises
The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises is the holder of worldwide motion picture, legitimate stage, merchandising, and other rights in the literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. SZC has been producing and licensing films, stage productions and merchandise based on the Tolkien works for more than 30 years. Its headquarters are located in Berkeley, California and its Middle-earth Enterprises’ website may be found at www.middleearth.com.
© Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc.
About Pressman Toy Corporation
Pressman Toy Corporation, the third largest game manufacturer in the United States, was founded in 1922. The company has released many strong brands that consumers have enjoyed for generations, such as Rummikub, MASTERMIND and Tri-Ominos. One of the first companies in the industry to begin licensing popular characters and content for toys and games, Pressman Toy has created games and puzzles based on Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Smurfs, Tinga Tinga Tales, Curious George, Dinosaur Train, Looney Tunes, Hello Kitty, and Scooby-Doo! as well as popular games shows Deal or No Deal, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. Further information about Pressman Toy can be found at www.pressmantoy.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kimberly Awad
Pressman Toy Corporation
(212) 675-7910 ext. 108
kimberly@pressmantoy.com
Janice Aguilar-Herrero
Warner Bros. Consumer Products
(818) 954-3821
janice.aguilar-herrero@warnerbros.com