EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Nov. 14, 2003 -- "The Lord of the Rings" Gift Set is the Newest Addition to the Barbie Collectibles(R) Pop Culture Line.

Considered by millions throughout the world to be the greatest adventure ever told, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy has ignited the imaginations of millions of readers throughout the world. For the past two years, New Line Cinema brought this classic legend to the motion picture screen and introduced movie audiences to the extraordinary world of Middle-earth.

Based on New Line Cinema's upcoming film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel, "The Return of the King," Barbie(R) doll and Ken(R) doll portray the romance and drama of Arwen and Aragorn. The characters from the mystical world of Middle-earth are brought to life with exquisite detail in a commemorative Collector Edition gift set to coincide with the third release titled "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" on December 17.

"Barbie Collectibles is dedicated to bringing the most beautiful and detailed renditions to life for 'The Lord of the Rings' and Barbie(R) fans alike," said Deanna Kangas, Director at Mattel. "The film provides vividly rich images to work with, and we are excited to be part of the project."

Barbie(R) doll captures the essence of Arwen, considered to be the most beautiful of all living beings in Middle-earth, dressed in a gown with silvery details on the bodice and sleeves. The doll's beautiful long flowing hair is adorned with a beaded butterfly-patterned hair ornament.

Off on another adventurous journey to defend the Fellowship, Ken(R) doll wears an elaborate warrior costume featuring a cloak, body armor, crown and sword.

Carrying a suggested retail price of $59.95, "The Lord of the Rings" gift set will be available this November on Barbiecollectibles.com. Other dolls in the Barbie Collectibles Pop Culture line include Barbie(R) as Elle Woods from "Legally Blonde II," "I Love Lucy(R)" Doll, Diana Ross and Barbie(R) as Sandy from "Grease(TM)." Visit http://Barbiecollectibles.com for more information.

New Line Cinema's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" film will be released in theaters nationwide on December 17, 2003. For more information about "The Lord of the Rings" movies, please go to www.lordoftherings.net.

About Mattel

Mattel, Inc. (www.mattel.com), is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie(R), the most popular fashion doll ever introduced. The Mattel family of toys and games comprises such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels(R), Matchbox(R), American Girl(R), and Fisher-Price(R), which also includes Little People(R), Rescue Heroes(TM), Power Wheels(R), as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 25,000 people in 36 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world's premier toy brands -- today and tomorrow.

About New Line Cinema

Founded in 1967, New Line Cinema is among the entertainment industry's leading independent producers and distributors of theatrical motion pictures. New Line licenses its films to ancillary markets including cable and broadcast television as well as to international venues. The company, which is a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner Inc., operates several divisions including in-house theatrical distribution, marketing, home video, television, acquisition, production, licensing and merchandising units. More information about New Line Cinema can be obtained at www.newline.com.