Hey #tolkien members! Quite a bit of news, so continue reading!

First off, it's time for this month's Featured Deviation Nominations!
Nomination rules!
To nominate for this month's featured deviations (to go into the featured folder and be displayed on the front page), you can either post a comment to this blog or (if you want to be anonymous) send #tolkien a note with the links to the deviations you're nominating.
This month, nominate deviations *only* from the LOTR: Film folder. Other folders in the following months!
You can nominate up to ten deviations You don't have to do ten, but you can!
Don't nominate a deviation that's being featured this month (you can see this month's featured here: [link])
You can nominate *one* of your own deviations, but you MUST nominate at least four others (if not more) if you do.

Nominations end at midnight GMT on July 1st.

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In the last few weeks there have been a lot of casting updates, including the voice of Smaug and Bard! Read on!

From TheOneRing.net:

Peter Jackson has posted a new note on his Facebook page today that confirms the casting of Luke Evans as Bard, as well as Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Smaug. He has also announced two new cast members. Barry Humphries will be portraying a completely CGI Goblin King…and…wait for it…the biggest news is LOST star Evangeline Lilly will be Tauriel. PJ describes Tauriel as a Woodland Elf, ‘Her name means ‘daughter of Mirkwood’ and, beyond that, we must leave you guessing! (No, there is no romantic connection to Legolas.)‘

Benedict Cumberbatch is a fellow cast member with Martin Freeman (Bilbo) on the British TV series 'Sherlock'. Luke Evans is a new up-and-coming actor that worked with Andy Serkis in 'Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll'. Barry Humphries you may know from Pixar's 'Finding Nemo'; he voiced Bruce the Shark. And, as the article describes, Evangeline Lilly starred in 'Lost'.

What do you think about Bard, the voice actors, and this new female Elf? Do you think her role will be large, or more something along the roles of Lurtz or Morwen (the Rohan mother), both characters made for the films? Is anyone else relieved as I am that they gave her a proper Sindarin name? (It literally means forest-daughter, but close enough, PJ, close enough...). Do you think she will take on the role that the old 'Itaril' previously had? Let the speculation begin!

Oh, and of course, if you have not seen this yet, do so now: First 'stills' from The Hobbit! Only a couple, but seeing Martin Freeman as Bilbo, all those Dwarves, and Gandalf back as the Grey... it makes me all the more excited for December 2012!

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Live in LA?
Want to see John Noble (Denethor), Sala Baker (Sauron), and possibly other special guests?
Own a LOTR-related costume and want to win yourself a trip to New Zealand?
Come to the Best Buy on Pico Ave today (Monday the 27th) for a fun-filled day of LOTR goodess! TheOneRing.net and Warner Bros are hosting the event in lieu of the LOTR: Extended Edition release on Blu-Ray that will last deep into the night!

You can find the most current information, with parking info and more, here, and the full press release here.

I will be with other TheOneRing.net staffers from noon on. If you want to say 'hi', I'll be the one with the "I went to Middle-earth and all I got was this lousy Ring" t-shirt, and I'll be sketching any costumed participants that would like a sketch of themselves. If you live in the area, I definitely recommend stopping by!