Third 'Rings' movie to premiere in Wellington says Jackson

By RUSSELL BAILLIE AND PAULA OLIVER

Lord of the Rings trilogy director Peter Jackson says he will personally ensure Wellington hosts the world premiere of the last Rings film, due for release next year.

The director made the pledge tonight as he arrived at the Wellington premiere screening of The Two Towers.

"It's the plan. New Line have agreed in principle, so I'm going to make sure they stick to their agreement. This country deserves to have a world premiere, and it would be appropriate with the last film,"said Jackson.

And in front of thousands in Wellingtons Courtenay Place, Jackson then extracted a promise from New Line's Mark Ordesky that the final of the trilogy would make its bow in Jacksons hometown.

Jackson, wearing his trademark purple shirt, was not the only star on the red carpet tonight.

Stars Elijah Wood, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd and New Zealand actor Karl Urban caused another outbreak of Hobbitmania, with fervent fans threatening to burst through the barrier fences.

They and other invited celebrities including sports stars Jonah Lomu, Dean Barker and Mandy Smith spent an hour signing autographs along the red carpet before finally making it to the Embassy front door.

Above them, a giant model of the creature Gollum, built by the Weta Workshop, snaked over the theatre roof making him the worlds biggest and ugliest gargoyle.

"Its so cool. Its sooooooo cool," gushed the effervescent Wood, who arrived the premiere hanging out the window of a car, as did fellow hobbits Monaghan and Boyd.

"It's great. Not every towns got a Gollum," said Monaghan.

The stars had all attended the earlier premieres in New York, Paris and Los Angeles, but unsurprisingly rated the Wellington as the most special.

Fans had been taking up positions since early this morning, complete with signs expressing their admiration for actor and director alike.

"Put the ring on my finger Frodo," called one, while others were more suggestive of their ardour for the diminutive actor.

The fans happily suffered through a cold night on Courtenay Place.

But any cloud over the event caused by Jackson publically taking on the New Zealand Film Commission - he uninvited two commission members after a spat over Kahukura Productions - were nowhere to be seen.

"This is about the film and the people who work on it. It's their night," Jackson said.

Prime Minister Helen Clark laughed and suggested most people were oblivious to the commission controversy.

After the screening guests headed to a party at Te Papa where they were also able to take a sneak preview of the Lord of the Rings exhibition which opens this week.

Herald feature: Lord of the Rings