Wizkids announced Tuesday The Lord of the Rings HeroClix to begin shipping late in 2011 and available in both campaign-style boxed sets and collectible booster box formats. With a license from Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Wizkids will also produce a semi-cooperative The Lord of the Rings board game, where players take on the role of the Nazgul and attempt to intercept the One Ring before it’s carried to Mount Doom.

Wizkids has been on a tear recently with new licenses. Fantasy Flight Games also produces board games based on The Lord of the Rings but the license secured by Wizkids should allow it to use artwork from the movies, which is not the case for FFG. Already a great license, Wizkids’ deal should also benefit from the eventual release of The Hobbit movie.