Weta Workshop To Make The Hobbit Collectibles

After years of making collectibles based on The Lord of the Rings films, Weta Workshop has announced they have struck a deal with Warner Bros Consumer Products to continue the partnership for the two The Hobbit films. The will produce prop replicas and other merchandise based on the films that are still filming in New Zealand. The estimated date for the new products will be October. While their stuff isn't cheap, it usually is pretty impressive in quality and detail. Press release is below.

WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS PARTNERS WITH WETA WORKSHOP
FOR COLLECTIBLES FROM THE UPCOMING HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FILMS, THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY AND THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN
-New merchandise slated for October 2012-
WELLINGTON, New Zealand and Burbank, CA – June 05, 2012 – Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Weta Workshop announced today a partnership under which the innovative design company will develop and market a wide range of authentic prop replicas, collectibles and merchandise based on the upcoming films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The licensing agreement grants Weta access to the library of characters, settings, and stories for the two films. The first products in the collection will be unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con at the Weta booth (#3513B) in July 2012, along with a limited number of exclusive pieces that will be available for purchase.

“Weta’s role behind-the-scenes of these two films makes them uniquely qualified to recreate the richly imaginative world of Middle-earth that their workshop helped brought to life,” said Kelly Gilmore, senior vice president, Global Toys and Themed Entertainment, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “This story will transport audiences to extraordinary new places and we are thrilled to bring fans products that capture the artistry and spirit of these beloved properties.”

The Weta Workshop collection will be inspired by the scenery, characters and adventures Bilbo Baggins encounters on his remarkable journey in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, slated for release December 14, 2012. Fans and collectors will appreciate the remarkable craftsmanship behind each element of the collection, which will include collectible statues, dioramas, high-end jewelry and art prints.

"We are excited to be returning to Middle-earth,” said Weta Workshop's Academy Award-winning Creative Director, Richard Taylor. “We have been working with Peter Jackson and the product team on the design and production of the movies for the last four years, and we now get the chance to share our passion with fans and collectors. Our authentic prop replicas and collectibles are created by the very same artists who have worked on the two films, so effectively they come straight from Middle-earth."

Weta Workshop will also continue their incredibly popular range of collectibles for The Lord of the Rings, which began more than 10 years ago. They are now featured in the gorgeous art book Weta, The Collector's Guide.

The full collection from Weta Workshop based on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again will be available for purchase in October at specialty retailers and on Weta Workshop’s website at www.wetanz.com/shop.