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Sir Ian debunks rumors and spy reports! - Lord of the Rings news - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

June 16, 2000 at 16:37:46

In his latest collection of responses to fan inquiries, Sir Ian McKellen discloses a great deal of information about the current status of the productions and he disputes one widely mentioned spy report.

Arwen will not accompany the Fellowship, Sir Ian tells a concerned fan. Nor should anyone be flying down to New Zealand in the hope of landing a job with the production on the off-chance they are hiring whomever shows up.

New Zealand has a well-established film and television industry. Although the three-film production of "The Lord of the Rings" may have driven up competition for qualified local talent, there was never really any question about the availability of most of the technical staff Peter Jackson would need to commence work on the films. And he had already invested more than a year in preparation for the project when filming began in October 1999.

As for Arwen, a spy report published on a popular Tolkien movie news site stated that the spy had heard a woman screaming during work on the scene outside the west-gate of Moria. Sir Ian disputes the report and says that Arwen was not there.

Sir Ian's openness and frank responses to fan questions and issues have been a source of reassurance for many fans who have heard various disturbing rumors about the production. Much more information is provided in the current e-posts and we encourage all fans to browse them at their leisure.

Thank you, Sir Ian, for your time and thoughtful replies!