Snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures could not deter adventure-seeking stars who turned out in New York for the world premiere of The Two Towers, the second instalment in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, in New York.
The film's star, Elijah Wood, arrived sporting a newly-shaven head, in stark contrast to his scruffy-haired character Frodo Baggins. He was joined by British co-star John Rhys-Davies, Liv Tyler, director Peter Jackson and other celebrities including Yoko Ono, Susan Sarandon and Monica Lewinsky.
Early reports suggest the The Two Towers may be even more impressive that its predecessor, with epic battle scenes and more dramatic plot developments. The only question is whether it can match the first film's commercial success. The Fellowship Of The Ring grossed $860 million worldwide and was nominated for 13 Oscars.
All three parts were filmed at one go in Jackson's home country, New Zealand, with a budget of $310 million. "When the first instalment was released last year this movie was already shot and in the can, as is the one next year," said Jackson. "I think that's what's great about this: they're not sequels, they don't suffer from the syndrome of sequels. They're just one continuous epic story."
Frodo and his friends will be arriving in British cinemas on December 18 after the London premiere which is scheduled for the 11th.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
