Sideshow Toys has partnered with the WETA Workshop of New Zealand to create multiple lines of polystone collectibles based on the upcoming Lord of the Rings film trilogy.  WETA is the New Zealand-based special effects/makeup team that is creating the effects and makeup for the LotR films, and is also responsible for the effects for the Zena and Hercules TV series.  The same WETA designers and technicians that created the different armies and creatures for director Peter Jackson's version of Middle Earth are creating the line of high quality collectibles for Sideshow. 

In all WETA plans to release some 24 statues, 32 busts, 7 wall plaques, and 14 assorted weapons sets based on the film.  The first series of collectibles will be available in September, with new series released at 45-day intervals.

The 1/6 scale statues are hand cast in heavy weight polystone and hand painted to the most exacting standards.  Each figure's display base includes an etched map of Middle Earth, the LotR logo, the character's name, and the sculptor's signature.  Each figure has been approved and endorsed by the actor who portrayed the character in the film.

These high end, exquisite figures, busts, and helmets are clearly aimed at the collector's market.  Toy Biz is creating the mass market action figures, which will be everywhere, but the more expensive Sideshow sculptures will be not be nearly as ubiquitous (see 'Toy Biz Gets Rings').  Many pop culture retailers are familiar with Sideshow's excellent line of high end movie monster figures including the sold-out Max Schreck from Nosferatu and Werner Kraus from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.