$399.00
Winner of seventeen Academy Awards, The Lord of the Rings was brought to the big screen by New Line Cinema and directed by Peter Jackson. Weta Workshop was intrinsically involved in manufacturing all three films' designs and physical effects. Deep within the earth, tunneling for Mithril in sunless black rock, the Dwarves disturbed something that had remained safely entombed since ages past, a being of unfathomable terror, a relic of a time of gods and giants, a creature of which the like should never walk again in Middle-earth and for whom few equals were remaining in the world, a Balrog of Morgoth. No blade or device of Dwarf design could harm the Balrog. By the hundreds, Durin’s people and the Dwarf King fell before the beast, named Durin’s Bane. When the Fellowship of the Ring sought to pass beneath the Misty Mountains and thereby thwart the attentions of the fallen Wizard Saruman, it was against Gandalf’s grave misgivings, for the Grey Wizard suspected what haunted the shadows of Moria. Secrecy alone might secure their safe passage, for if the Balrog were alerted, Gandalf knew their escape would only be bought at a great price, and he would not again pass through the Dwarf realm’s doors. Of all the terrors of confronting the Fellowship of the Ring on their journey, none would compare with the Balrog. A demon of flame and shadow, the creature had lain entombed for countless ages in the deepest darkness, far beneath the Misty Mountains. When design work began on The Lord of the Rings in 1997, the look of many of Middle-earth’s most evil creatures was open to interpretation. Loose descriptions in the books, plus rough sketches by seasoned Tolkien artist John Howe, helped guide Weta Workshop concept artist Ben Wootten in his development of the Balrog. Ben Wootten’s background studying art and biology informed his designs and rooted the Balrog in a tangible anatomical reality. At the same time, the flaming mane and cracked lava hide gave it an elemental savagery - elevating the creature above the rest of the trilogy’s less fantastical monsters. In 2001, the epic clash between this titan and Gandalf the Grey thrilled audiences and left us with the immortal phrase: “You shall not pass!” Twenty years on, the Balrog has been reimagined once more by the team at Weta Workshop as part of our Classic Series line in celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Lord of The Rings. The Classic Series is Open Edition and tailored to fit beautifully on your shelf. Product Details: Made from high-quality polystone Initial clay sculpted by Victor Gully, digitally enlarged by Steven Saunders, then touched up in clay once more by Shaun Bolton 10.8” / 27.5cm tall Creative paint scheme to bring the Balrog’s flames to life Scaled to be displayed alongside the rest of the Classic Series line “The 20th Anniversary of The Lord of The Rings movies has a special significance to us here at the Workshop. We are delighted to commemorate the upcoming event with a brand-new series of iconic Middle-earth figures. Let the celebrations begin!” Richard Taylor - Co-founder & Creative Director, Weta Workshop Please note: This product was designed and prototyped at Weta Workshop. Images are of a pre-production prototype. Each piece is painted by hand, and slight variations will occur. Ages 14+ Read more
Estimated arrival date: JANUARY 2024