From Rebecca Murray,
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LOS ANGELES, Calif., Sept. 27, 2004 - "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" - the record-breaking, 11-time Academy Award(R)-winning conclusion to one of the most successful motion picture franchises in entertainment history - hits shelves on December 14, 2004, in a four-disc, special extended DVD edition from New Line Home Entertainment. A double cassette VHS version of the extended film will also be available.

"In this Special Extended Edition, Peter Jackson has created the ultimate conclusion to a true filmmaking achievement," said New Line Home Entertainment president and chief operating officer, Stephen Einhorn. "With even more added footage than the Special Extended Editions of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' and 'The Two Towers,' this new version of 'The Return of the King' is truly a landmark cinematic experience."

Created under the supervision of Academy Award(R)-winning writer/director/producer Peter Jackson, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" Special Extended Edition offers a stunning, new version of "The Return of the King" featuring approximately 50 minutes of never-before-seen scenes and sequences woven into the theatrical feature. Extra footage is highlighted by all new music from Academy Award(R)-winning composer Howard Shore, and 300 new special effects shots created by WETA Digital.

Additional scenes in the Special Extended Edition include a final appearance of the evil wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee), Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) being confronted by the Mouth of Sauron, and an emerging romance between Faramir (David Wenham) and Eowyn (Miranda Otto). Finally, fans will relish a surprising cameo by Peter Jackson. Though the mastermind behind the Trilogy could be glimpsed in the theatrical cut playing one of the pirates whose ship is overtaken by Aragorn and the newly raised Armies of the Dead, in the Special Extended Edition, Gimli (John-Rhys Davies) causes one of Legolas's (Orlando Bloom) arrows to misfire, accidentally hitting and killing Jackson!

The 250-minute feature is contained on two discs in Widescreen, Dolby Digital EX 5.1 Surround Sound, DTS ES 6.1 Surround Sound and Stereo Surround Sound. Four complete, separate audio commentaries are supplied by Peter Jackson and more than 30 members of "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" cast and production team, including Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Academy Award(R)-winners Richard Taylor, Howard Shore, Randy Cook and many more.

Discs Three and Four contain hours of all new supplemental material. These one-of-a-kind features include production documentaries and featurettes; design and photo galleries of thousands of images; interactive maps; access to exclusive online features via DVD-ROM; and more.

Limited Edition Collector's DVD Gift Set

Also on December 14, 2004, New Line Home Entertainment will release an exclusive, limited edition Collector's DVD Gift Set. A must-have for every "The Lord of the Rings" fan, the Collector's Gift Set will include the entire four-disc Special Extended DVD Edition in elaborate package art conceived and designed solely for the gift set by famed J.R.R. Tolkien illustrator Alan Lee. Inside will be a hand-painted, intricately detailed, polystone sculpture of Minas Tirith - the seven-tiered City of Kings, created by Sideshow Weta Collectibles workshop under the supervision of Peter Jackson and Academy Award(R)-winning visual effects artist Richard Taylor.

The limited edition Collector's DVD Gift Set will also contain a fifth DVD titled, Howard Shore: Creating The Lord of The Rings Symphony - A Composer's Journey Through Middle-earth. This 52-minute bonus DVD includes excerpts of live concert footage of The Lord of the Rings Symphony recorded with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY NEW LINE HOME ENTERTAINMENT