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CNN Live At Daybreak

"Lord of the Rings" Versus "Harry Potter"

Aired December 20, 2001 - 05:58   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Wizards, elves and magical spells, no, it's not "Harry Potter," it's his hobbit-sized box office competition.

Nina Nannar explains why "Lord of the Rings" is different from any other movie.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NINA NANNAR, ITN: Midnight at a cinema in Hamburg, Germany, a special screening for fans who simply couldn't wait. The tickets, all sold out. It's a scene repeated elsewhere around the world as "The Fellowship of the Ring," the first in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy is at last released to an expectant public.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING")

CHRISTOPHER LEE, ACTOR, "SARUMAN": You will find the ring and kill the one who carries it.

IAN MCKELLEN, ACTOR, "GANDALF": Frodo!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NANNAR: The film's stars and critics say the adaptation of Tolkien's book with its spectacular special effects will become a landmark in cinema history. But what kind of mark will it leave at the box office? It has another tale of sorcery as competition.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER' STONE")

DANIEL RADCLIFFE, ACTOR, "HARRY POTTER": Dear Mr. Potter ...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NANNAR: "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," also an adaptation of a best selling book and current record holder for the biggest opening weekend in history.

CHARLES GANT, "HEAT" MAGAZINE: "Harry Potter" is significantly played out. "Harry Potter" has been very, very widely available on a huge number of screens. Everyone who wants to see it has had a really good chance to go and see it. Obviously, "Lord of the Rings" is going to be No. 1 over Christmas. Next year when all the figures are counted up, "Harry Potter" will still be way ahead of the game.

NANNAR: So Gandalf the Wizard looks set to lose out to Potter the wizard. The "Lord of the Rings" filmmakers first have their eyes set on breaking even, they'll need to make 180 million pounds to do that.

Nina Nannar, ITN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLAWAY: And Leon Harris will talk with one of the stars, Ian McKellen coming up at 11:45 Eastern this morning right here on CNN.

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