Let the countdown begin ? there are just seven more days until ?The Return of the King?.

The final instalment of J.R.R. Tolkien?s legendary ?Lord of the Rings? trilogy is opening world-wide on December 17. The Liberty Theatre will be having a special midnight showing of ?The Return of the King? on December 17, bringing the movie to Bermuda one full hour before it opens in the United States and Canada.

?We?re very excited about it,? said Liberty Theatre manager Frederick Trott, who predicted a sold-out show ? even though the movie will not end until almost 4 a.m.

?It?s the final chapter of the ?Lord of the Rings? and it?s quite long ? three hours and 40 minutes.?

Tickets for the midnight showing are $10 each and there were still some left yesterday afternoon, although Mr. Trott said they were selling fast. ?I can?t wait,? said one ticket buyer, who did not want to give her name. ?This is going to be amazing, I am so excited ? and so happy they?re doing a midnight showing.

?But I think I might have to wear my pyjamas to the theatre. I?m going to have to be comfortable if I?m sitting there for that long.?

The movie will also be starting its regular run at the theatre on that same Wednesday in the evening, instead of beginning on a Friday as is the usual practice at Liberty Theatre.