Turtle Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Warner Bros. Consumer Products is pleased to announce today that it has awarded the worldwide master toy and game licensing rights for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again to The Bridge Direct, Inc., the global children's consumer products company. The Bridge will develop an exciting array of products inspired by the two films being directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson—who previously brought Middle-earth to life with the award-winning blockbuster The Lord of the Rings trilogy—including action figures, playsets, and role play accessories, which are expected to debut at retail in fall 2012 prior to the December 14 release of the first film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."We're thrilled about our partnership with The Bridge Direct, which produces engaging products that will recreate the storyline with stunning detail," said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President of Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "Thanks to many of the same creative minds behind The Lord of the Rings trilogy products, we're looking forward to unveiling a robust toy line for the two films that captures the excitement of the beloved adventure and delights loyal fans of the series." "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again promise a timeless story, a broad range of appealing characters, thrilling action and the incomparable movie magic brought to life by master filmmaker Peter Jackson, all of which will make for an amazing toy line," said Jay Foreman, President and CEO of The Bridge. Timed to reach consumers prior to the December 14, 2012 release of the first film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Bridge will debut a multi-category toy line. The battle begins with Basic Action Figures, Adventure Packs, Beast Packs, and highly detailed Collector Figures. Fans can become real-life heroes with premium role play items including a Basic Sting Sword, a Basic Orcrist Sword, a Dwarven Battle Axe, and a Deluxe Sting Sword that features a blue glow just like in the film, bringing the thrill and the fantasy of the two films to life. The Bridge will reveal the 2012 product line to key retail partners in the coming weeks. From: http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=82992 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttheadsmate Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 My best friend's ex-wife was a Dwarfen Battle Axe. Just saying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shanester Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 What I have seen so far looks great. I really like the franchise and what Jackson is doing with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turtle Posted October 12, 2011 Author Share Posted October 12, 2011 I loved LOTR and collected the hell out of the ToyBiz figures. I am really looking forward to The Hobbit films and merchandise, but I've never heard of The Bridge Direct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Harris Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Wait, the company that brought us the indispensable Justin Bieber Toy will now offer us Hobbit figures? Is, is that good news? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wug@10mfH Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 I think so. I did a little research on these guys and the heads of the Bridge worked previously for both Play Along Toys and Toy Biz, during the LOTR run. More detail can be found here: Hobbit Toy Announcement But I liked what they were behind in the past, and so I see no reason to panic yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turtle Posted October 17, 2011 Author Share Posted October 17, 2011 Thanks for the info, Wug. TB and Play Along both did a good job with their lines, so hopefully The Bridge will be channeling some of that into the Hobbit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turtle Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 Looks pretty good so far: http://www.cooltoyreview.com/story/front/The_Bridge_Direct_2012_SDCC_The_Hobbit_Bilbo_Baggins_146773.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wug@10mfH Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 The package is pretty! It's hard to see the details on the clear plastic, but It at least looks very similar in construction to the Toy Biz ones... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM-Royalninja Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 I hope they make the Hobbit minimates(Doubt it) like they did with LOTR . But legos are still fun ......Right? Wait, the company that brought us the indispensable Justin Bieber Toy will now offer us Hobbit figures? Is, is that good news? Toy biz has made awsome toys like:Nintendo toys (Zelda for exsample) , MvsC toys , and even marvel toys......But justin beber???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turtle Posted September 27, 2012 Author Share Posted September 27, 2012 In-hand pics from CTR of some upcoming sets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreadnok Rocksteady Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 I've seen some up close pics of these figures, they are really shoddy, poorly sculpted, especially considering they're from scan data, and are at a different scale to the Toy Biz stuff, which is a shame, because I went bat poop mental for the Toy Biz figures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turtle Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 I picked up Bilbo and Gandalf today. I think they look pretty good for 3 3/4 toys. Less so for Bilbo, but he's like 2 1/2 inches tall, so I can be forgiving. It's crazy though how expensive action figures have gotten. Minimates are such a bargain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turtle Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share Posted January 2, 2013 CTR named The Hobbit the best 3-3/4 line of the year! Well deserved recognition, if you ask me. I'm really in love with this 3-3/4 line. It's been years since I've collected any toys other than Minimates, but the Bridge Direct is really nailing it so far. I kind of wish there had been more in wave 1, but it's also been nice being able to spread out my purchases- I still have a couple sets to buy, but it doesn't look like anything is too difficult to find. TBD has said there will be a lot more coming in Wave 2. I'm hoping for Azog, the white warg, Yazneg, Radagast... and, most importantly, more dwarves! Especially Bofur. Don't know why, but he was my favorite. And after seeing the movie, I'm less satisfied with the Bilbo figure. First, he's a bit too short compared to the dwarves. Second, he's a bit too round in the middle. I'd like to see a version that is slightly taller, slightly slimmer Bilbo with a backpack, walking stick, and Sting. And another version without his jacket- the shirt and suspenders look, maybe with a removable housecoat and some dishes to stack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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