Yummy. This one’s a little more crafted and stylized than some of the previous trailers, but it, rather than being oblique, like some of the earliest trailers that lacked real footage, it manages to still give a proper sense of the characters and the struggles for power that fuel the series. I can’t get over how perfect the Iron Throne looks. As I’ve seen mentioned elsewhere, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau draped across the throne is almost the spitting image of Michael Komarck‘s famous painting:

Littlefinger sounds as slick and conniving as he should. Even Catelyn, who I’ve been skeptical about since the re-cast, is looking good. Having just finished watching The Tudors, I’m itchin’ for some more politically charged, period television. Also, I’m hoping it will be a convincing way to introduce my better half to George R.R. Martin’s series. As I say in nearly every post about the show, it’s hard not to be excited.

A whole lot of good news has surfaced regarding the upcoming film adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

Andy Serkis is back as Gollum:

I’m told that Andy Serkis has closed his deal to bring back Gollum in The Hobbit, the two films that Peter Jackson will direct in New Zealand starting in February.

It’s safe to say that Serkis’ performance in The Lord of the Rings trilogy was one of the most surprising and delightful aspects of the much-lauded movies. As with many of the actors in the films, Serkis has come to personify and define Tolkien’s character in the mind’s of many readers and filmgoers alike. The Hobbit wouldn’t be the same without him.

Ian McKellen is back as Gandalf the Grey:

Ian McKellen has signed on to return as wizard Gandalf in The Hobbit, the two-pic adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien novel being directed by Peter Jackson.

Like Serkis, it’s hard to imagine McKellen not filling the role of Gandalf. Even being so familiar with the books before the films were released, McKellen’s portrayal of Gandalf has replaced any original interpretation of the character that I originally conceived when first reading the novels as a child. It’s been long rumoured that McKellen was returning, so it’s comforting to finally have firm confirmation.

And, finally, Elijah Wood joins the film as Frodo Baggins:

TheOneRing.net can confirm that Elijah Wood will step in front of Peter Jackson’s cameras and return to Middle-earth for a part in ‘The Hobbit,’ — and we even know how. Despite how some fans will respond at first, the reasons are organic and natural and might not upset some of the most ardent purists.

You may be scratching your head about this one. Worry not. Jackson’s not shoehorning Frodo into The Hobbit, but rather he’s using Frodo as a frame for the story. The story will, by all accounts, open with Bilbo narrating There and Back Again to his young nephew.

After years of rocky development, it looks like we can finally begin to get excited about this project. It’s really happening, and all the right people seem to be involved.

From Durham’s blog:

It’s about Acacia 3…

Yesterday was my deadline for submitting the finished manuscript to my editor. It’s now fair for you to ask me if… I… actually… finished… the… damn… thing…

My answer…

Yes.

[…]

I also can’t say for certain that this title will stick, but at the moment we’re calling the book…

The Sacred Band: Book Three of the Acacia Trilogy

Good news for fans of Durham’s Acacia trilogy. I’ve not read The Other Lands, but I very much enjoyed Acacia: The War with the Mein (REVIEW, pardon the newbieish of the writing) when it was first released and look forward to being able to finish reading the trilogy in a reasonable amount of time. Durham might not be as quick as Brandon Sanderson or Daniel Abraham, but it’s nice to see yet another Fantasy author who can write short(ish), contained series and deliver them in a reasonable amount of time.

In response to the news, Robert V.S. Redick, author of The River of Shadows, made some noise about Durham and his series:

If you haven’t read Acacia or The Other Lands (Books I & II respectively), you’ve got something special waiting for you. David writes with terrific flair, intelligence & generosity. His characters are complex & mercurial; heroes erode into villains; villains compete for our sympathies even when their actions make us cringe. The world they inhabit is fascinating and diverse. The books show just how much epic fantasy can accomplish, how resonant it can be with our own lives. I can’t wait for the final installment.

Almost all of which I agree with. If you’re a fan of George R.R. Martin or Guy Gavriel Kay, it’s hard not to recommend Durham’s trilogy. It’s good stuff.