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The Tolkien Estate, which manages the Lord of the Rings author’s works, has come out with a statement that seeks to distance itself from Fox’s new movie starring Nicholas Hoult. The estate released a statement this week where it said it does not “endorse it or its content in any way,” according to The Guardian.

The estate further noted that it “wish[es] to make clear that they did not approve of, authorise, or participate in the making of this film,” adding that “they do not endorse it or its content in any way.”

A representative for the estate told The Guardian that issuing this statement is not the first step in pursuing legal action, but instead to let viewers know what the estate’s position is.

The new movie, which is called Tolkien, tells the story of the author’s upbringing, including his time at school, his bond with Edith Bratt, and his time serving in World War I as a backdrop to how these experiences shaped his acclaimed fantasy novels.

Here is the full statement, as obtained by io9.

“The family of JRR Tolkien and the Tolkien Estate are aware of the Fox Searchlight motion picture entitled Tolkien that is due for release in May 2019. The family and the Estate wish to make clear that they did not approve of, authorise, or participate in the making of this film. They do not endorse it or its content in any way.”

Tolkien’s son, Christopher Tolkien, told French newspaper Le Monde in 2012 that “the commercialisation [of Tolkien’s work] has reduced the aesthetic and philosophical impact of the creation to nothing.”

The estate has been involved in various lawsuits over the years related to Lord of the Rings properties, leading some to believe no more officially endorsed films or shows based on Tolkien or his creations would happen. But in 2018, Amazon and the Tolkien estate announced an agreement to make a Lord of the Rings TV show. Amazon reportedly paid $250 million for the rights alone to do so.

Tolkien hits theatres on May 10. It’s directed by Dome Karukoski (Heart of Finland), based on script from David Gleeson and Stephen Beresford.

Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road, X-Men series) plays the adult Tolkien, while Lily Collins (To The Bone, Stuck In Love) plays Tolkien’s wife, Edith Bratt.

Middle-earth Enterprises, which is the rights-owner of Tolkien’s work, continues to reach new deals. Just this year, it was announced that Daedalic Entertainment is making a Lord of the Rings game about Gollum. Additionally, Electronic Arts remains a Lord of the Rings licensee, as does WB Games and Lord of the Rings Online developer Standing Stone Games.

Marvel’s hugely anticipated superhero film Avengers: Endgame is finally in theaters (at least in some parts of the world), and as such, reviews have started to show up online.

You can see a rundown of Avengers: Endgame review excerpts below, while more information on the film’s critical reception can be found on GameSpot sister site Metacritic. In addition to GameSpot, the excerpts include those from our sister sites CNET and ComicBook.

Endgame is a direct sequel to last year’s Infinity War, which ended in dramatic fashion with the evil Thanos wiping out half of the galaxy’s population with the snap of his fingers. Among the dead are a number of Avengers, so fans have been eagerly waiting to see what happens next.

The movie is expected to make a lot of money during its opening weekend. In fact, some projections are saying the film will enjoy the best start in the history of cinema.

Avengers: Endgame

• Directed By: Joe and Anthony Russo
• Written By: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
• Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Brie Larson, Scarlett Johansson, Karen Gillan, Tessa Thompson, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Josh Brolin, Tom Holland, Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Olsen,, Dave Bautista, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Chadwick Boseman, Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle.
• Runtime: 181 minutes
• Release Date: April 26 (United States)

GameSpot

“Holy hell is it an emotional, fulfilling ride. I have no doubt we’re going to spend the coming weeks picking and pulling it apart until we’ve over-analyzed every single aspect imaginable. But right now, in the aftermath, Avengers Endgame feels like a win. — Michael Rougeau [Full review]

CNET

“Every single action sequence here deserves to be seen on the largest screen possible. In Infinity War, the Russos demonstrated their ability to take action from Earth to space and back, and each of Endgame’s locations provides plenty of epic clashes and gorgeous vistas to relish. Even the more basic settings, like the Avengers’ headquarters somewhere in upstate New York, get made over into expansive settings.” — Mike Sorrentino [Full review]

ComicBook

“The final movie in Marvel’s Infinity Saga is a masterpiece. It’s an absolute spectacle which needs to be watched on the biggest screen possible. It’s a love letter to fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In fact, I’d argue that Avengers: Endgame is the film event of our lifetime and lives up to every bit of global hype it has garnered. It is setting a new standard and raising the bar for event films and likely will not be matched in this generation of filmmaking.” — Brandon Davis [Full review]

Slant Magazine

“Every serious narrative beat is ultimately undercut by pro-forma storytelling (the emotional beats never linger, as the characters are always race-race-racing to the next big plot point), or by faux-improvised humor, with ringmaster Tony ‘Iron Man’ Stark (Robert Downey Jr., so clearly ready to be done with this universe) leading the sardonic-tongued charge.” — Keith Uhlich [Full review]

The Globe And Mail

“Even if I could muster the strength to defy studio marching orders on plot details, there is no point. There is little in Endgame that is worth spoiling, given how its core is spoiled rotten to begin with.” — Barry Hertz [Full review]

Empire

“A victory lap that moonwalks through the best part of the MCU back catalogue and emphasises emotion as much as action, this is an intensely satisfying piece of blockbuster filmmaking.” — Helen O’Hara [Full review]

The Associated Press

“Generous in humor, spirit, and sentimentality, Anthony and Joe Russo’s Endgame is a surprisingly full feast of blockbuster-making that, through some time-traveling magic, looks back nostalgically at Marvel’s decade of world domination. This is the Marvel machine working at high gear, in full control of its myth-making powers and uncovering more emotion in its fictional cosmos than ever before.” — Jake Coyle [Full review]

The Wrap

“Yes, there are some moments when the lengthy running time makes itself known, and yes, this is a corporate product even more so than most of the stand-alone MCU movies. But if you like what that product is about, the laughs and tears here feel genuine. The Marvel movies are by no means over, but Avengers: Endgame does offer rare moments of catharsis in an ongoing serialized saga.” — Alonso Duralde [Full review]