AFTER weeks of hype the film adaptation of Lord of the Rings opened last night to do battle with the Harry Potter movie.
Hundreds of fans gathered for the star-studded London premiere of the first cinematic instalment of JRR Tolkien’s trilogy.
The Fellowship of the Ring has been described as a mirror portrayal of the author’s epic works, which have sold more than 100 million copies in 40 languages since they were first published in 1954.
The books immortalised Frodo the hobbit and Gandalf the wizard, the trilogy following the pair as they embark on a quest against evil, travelling through Middle Earth, where they encounter legions of goblins and giant trolls.
The film, due to be released globally on 19 December, is tipped to rival Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone at the box office this Christmas.