January 24, 2002
PageSix

New Line Cinema's PG-13 rated epic The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring fell two pegs to third place in its fifth week with a still solid ESTIMATED $17.25 million at 3,266 theaters (-115 theaters; $5,281 per theater). Its cume is approximately $250.2 million, heading for $300 million or more in domestic theaters. (For three days New Line said it did an ESTIMATED $13.03 million or $3,988 per theater.)

Directed by Peter Jackson, Rings' ensemble cast is led by Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen.

''We're just chugging along,'' New Line distribution president David Tuckerman said Sunday morning. ''I think that if we don't win anything (in the Oscars) we're going to be about $300 million. I think if we win, we'll be at $350 million.''

New Line, Tuckerman said, is planning ''at some point in time to add (additional footage at the end of Rings that) will be a lot longer than a trailer, but I don't know how much longer. We're going to give (moviegoers) a preview of (the second episode of Rings). We're going to change the last reel out and do a preview of Two at the end of the last reel. (People) are screaming for it.''

When would New Line do this? ''I'm sure (it would be) after the Oscars are voted and the ballots are done,'' Tuckerman said. ''I'm pretty certain we'll end up doing it.''

From AICN

News on the addition of TWO TOWERS stuff at the end of FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING!

Hey folks, Harry here... According to Page Six they claim to have spoken to New Line about the additional footage that will be tacked onto the ending of LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. The plan seems to be that it will be "a lot longer than a trailer, but I don't know how much longer." New Line seems to have told them that it would be after voting for this year's Oscars, so whenever the ballots are due in.

This jives with the news I heard that New Line was going to do a big post-Oscar theater boost, adding upto 800 additional theaters that weekend to carry the film.

Now, if perchance, Jackson's film is rewarded enough at the Ceremonies in March, there is a chance that the film could have a significant post-Oscar boost. We'll see. No matter, I just want to see that TWO TOWERS footage!