Lord of the Rings Blu-ray: I Want My Extended Editions!

When Amazon add its pre-order page for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy on Blu-ray – Fans of the House of Elrond quickly became a house divided. It’s great news that Warner is finally getting around to giving us Rings on Blu-ray.  But many of us are disappointed that the films available will only be the theatrical versions. Here are the rumors around the Internet regarding the Blu-ray release of Lord of the Rings.

Late last week, Rings fans found out they could put in their order for the theatrical release only of the complete Lord of the Rings trilogy on Blu-ray. But you know how it works; the Extended Editions everyone really wants will eventually follow, it’s a practice called the Double Dip. 

After a bit of digging on Amazon.com you might find that there is a placeholder page for the Extended Editions. Basically it lets Extended Edition-only fans sign up to be notified when Amazon.com verifies the release of the upcoming set. 

This lead to optimistic speculation by the HDRoom.com that Amazon.com might have made a mistake. Cover art on the disc set doesn’t specify whether it’s a Theatrical or Extended Edition. So, HDRoom hoped it might be a dual-version movie disc with seamless branching between the two releases. 

Sadly, that’s just wishful thinking. Many are up-in-arms over the double dip and protesting Warner by signing up on Amazon.com’s placeholder page for the Extended Editions and forgoing the theatrical Blu-ray set. But before you get your Mithril girdles in an uproar, just ask yourself: Can you really blame Warner for indulging the double-dip? It’s nothing personal to the diehard fans - it’s just business. 

When can you expect the Lord of the Rings Extended Edition on Blu-ray? 

The smart bet is that the Extended Editions will arrive late in 2011. That’s when the first Hobbit film is slated to hit theaters. Yes, more Tolkien on the big screen means tie-ins and merchandising that Warner will want to maximize in the form of hype surrounding its return to Middle Earth. 

According to Blu-ray.com, director Peter Jackson is saving the extended versions of the films for an Ultimate Rings box set. It’s a good bet it’ll be chalk full of Blu-ray-only goodies not seen on the Extended Edition DVDs. 

While Jackson isn’t directing the upcoming Hobbit films he is co-producing with partner Fran Walsh, the duo also worked together on the Rings trilogy. The Hobbit will be a two-part feature with part one slated to hit theaters in late 2011 and part two in 2012. The films are being shot simultaneously in New Zealand, just like the Lord of the Rings films. This time Guillermo Del Toro takes the director’s chair. 

The Hobbit is in good hands with Del Toro a veteran of fantasy and action film. He’s the one that gave us both Hellboy movies and arguably the finest fantasy film ever made: El Laberinto del Fauno - released in the US under the name Pan’s Labyrinth. 

For Hobbit; Ian Holm and Ian McKellen are rumored to reprise their roles as Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf respectively. And if rumors hold true, Andy Serkis returning as Golum will add irresistible icing to two additional helpings of Shire cake. 

Personally, I can’t wait! I’ll hold off buying the theatrical release and patiently wait for the rumored 2011 release of the alleged Lord of the Rings Ultimate set on Blu-ray. This is how I’ll indulge the full commercial onslaught of hype for the upcoming Hobbit films.