Seems our folks at GW have indeed renewed their LotR license and are able to keep going with those models and do them for The Hobbit as well:

http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:GAW.L&display=news&action=article&articleid=8158195&from=rss

Quote :

WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS EXTENDS LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH GAMES WORKSHOP TO INCLUDE

"THE HOBBIT" AND "THE LORD OF THE RINGS"



BURBANK, Calif., Wednesday, February 9, 2011 - Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) announced today that it has extended its six-year licensing agreement with Games Workshop, enabling them exclusive, worldwide, all-language rights to produce tabletop games based on "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" properties.



This extension allows Games Workshop, the largest tabletop fantasy and futuristic battle-games company, to expand on their arsenal of battle-games and model soldiers. Under the agreement, Games Workshop will continue to develop and increase their offerings from Middle-earth, the literary creation of J.R.R. Tolkien, allowing fans to realistically recreate action from the books and movies, based on one of the most thrilling stories ever told.



"Games Workshop has been a valuable partner of ours for a number of years and we look forward to continuing and expanding this successful relationship," said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President, Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "Their products reflect the true spirit of 'The Lord of the Rings' franchise and, as anticipation builds for the release of 'The Hobbit,' the property's loyal fans will be excited for these richly inspired offerings."



"'The Lord of the Rings' is now firmly established as one of our core game systems, and the opportunity to expand it further with the upcoming film 'The Hobbit' is very exciting indeed, both for us and our hobbyists," said Mark Wells, CEO, Games Workshop. "The fantasy worlds of Middle-earth, as realized in the original works of J.R.R. Tolkien and in Peter Jackson's groundbreaking film adaptations, make wonderful backgrounds and stories which Games Workshop faithfully reproduces through its range of miniatures and battle-games."

Games Workshop products are available for purchase through Games Workshop Hobby Centres and independent retailers throughout the globe.

Is this a good thing? Bad thing? Meh thing?

Cheers,
Fenrir

I'd say it's a good thing. By renewing the liscence, GW won't be dropping their LotR range in the immediate future, and I'd say this indicates that it's not going to be switched from Core System to Specialist Games during that time period either. It also means that when TH is released, there will definately be a ressurgence in popularity (even if this does die off after the EE DVDs are released). At worst, it'll see GW concentrating on the LotR line for a couple of years arround the release of TH and hopefully that means we'll get a couple of top quality supllements and WD issues out of it. At best they'll keep up the top work for longer.

We're also going to get some nice looking minis out of the bargain. Wood Elves are the best sculpts out there, so the release of TH will probably prompt a redesign of them. Also, the Moria Goblins, while still good minis, are getting a bit old now, being one of the oldest sets still available, so if the Goblins in TH look different to the Moria ones from FotR, maybe we'll get a new set of plastic Goblins to match.


Another thing to think about is that the bulk of TH favours the SBG system over WotR, so hopefully, the popularity will see SBG get some love from GW again. And speaking of WotR, considering one of the focal points of TH is tBotFA, hopefully they'll redo WotR and make it a nicer system. Failing that, we may also see a revival of the actual BotFA system from Specialist Games.

i just hope that we get more SBG support than the WOTR whihc is really not very good.
I'm jsut looking forward to seeing what Gloin's rules will be

Great news If nothing else, this should drag LOTR back to "core-system" status (in more than just name) and hopefully that'll lead to more store-space, interest and releases.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what they do with TH but I'm hoping that GW will ride the inevitable wave of Tolkiexcitement back into the Trilogy and further. It will be nice to SBG resuscitated but should a more polished WOTR result from this I may be broadening my gaming horizons in the near future.

As unreasonably overpriced our GW "friends" have become, as has been said, it'll keep us die-hard's going for a few more years