Jackson and Return of the King odds-on for Oscars

By CLAIRE TREVETT

It is two weeks before nominations are out, but online bookies already have The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King as hot favourite to win the Oscar for best picture.

Several online betting companies have their odds up for the February 29 awards ceremony, and bets on Return of the King are not going to reap much reward for gamblers.

Nominees for the 76th Academy Awards will be announced on January 27.

Australian-based Centrebet has Peter Jackson as hot favourite for best director with odds of 1-5. The site also has the final of the Lord of the Rings movies at 3-10 to win best picture.

Other New Zealanders with odds on Centrebet are Russell Crowe to win best actor, at 9-1 for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and Whale Rider star Keisha Castle-Hughes to win best supporting actress at odds of 80 to 1. Centrebet sports betting manager Gerard Daffy said odds were on Lord of the Rings because it had already missed out twice.

"After snubbing the first two parts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Hollywood is preparing to crown Jackson and his movie. The Return of the King is long odds-on to become the first fantasy film to win the major prize."

Other online bookmakers agree.

UK betting group bet365 had Lord of the Rings at 1-4, as did Irish bookie paddypower.

Cold Mountain or Mystic River were second pick for most, and Sean Penn was favourite for best actor for his role in Mystic River.

South African Charlize Theron is the hot pick for best actress, for her role in Monster.

The New Zealand TAB cannot offer betting on novelty events such as the Oscars.

Herald Feature: Lord of the Rings