The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

From Tolkien Gateway
The name The Lord of the Rings refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see The Lord of the Rings (disambiguation).
"What news from the North, Riders of Rohan?" — Aragorn
This article is about a current event; it is subject to frequent revision as more information becomes available.

The Lord of the Rings (TV series), otherwise known as LOTRonPrime, is an upcoming television series adaptation of the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. It is created and produced by Amazon Studios working alongside the Tolkien Estate, The Tolkien Trust, HarperCollins and New Line Cinema. The series is expected to release in 2021.[1]

Set in Middle-earth, it will explore new storylines preceding J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring.[2] The show will cover events of the Second Age.[3] In an interview with the German Tolkien Society, scholar Tom Shippey stated that events from the First and Third Ages are "off-limits".[4]

Cast and characters

In alphabetical order

Production

File:Amazon - Middle-earth map.jpg
Fourth map of Middle-earth, released by Amazon on March 6, 2019

On November 2017, it was reported that Amazon Studios were in discussion with Warner Bros. Television and the Tolkien Estate about developing a series based on The Lord of the Rings.[6] Later, in November, Amazon Studios announced they have secured the rights to develop a multi-season television series set in Middle-earth with the potential for spin-offs.[7] The rights have been said to have cost close to $250 million.[8] Amazon Studios will cooperate with the Tolkien Estate, The Tolkien Trust, HarperCollins and New Line Cinema.[8]

On 13 February 2019, Amazon's newly created Twitter account associated with the show posted the quote "I wisely started with a map.", taken from Tolkien's Letter 144.[9] On 15 February the Twitter account released a map of Middle-earth along with a line of the Ring Verse, over the next few weeks different versions of the map were released with each successive one including more labels than the previous as well as more lines from the verse. On 7 March the final map was released which showed a wider view of Middle-earth, including the island of Númenor and the final post "Welcome to the Second Age".[3] Tom Shippey and artist John Howe had worked on the accuracy of the maps, however dedicated fans had detected several mistakes and anachronisms.[10]

The series being set in the Second Age was predicted by Tolkien Society Chair Shaun Gunner in February.[11]

On 27 July 2019 a video was published that introduced the creative team; J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay were announced as the showrunners, the writing team consisting of Gennifer Hutchison, Helen Shang, Jason Cahill, Glenise Mullins, Justin Dohle, Stephany Folsom and Bryan Cogman, Belén Atienza, Bruce Richmond, Gene Kelly and Lindsey Weber as executive producers, Ron Ames as co-producer, Kate Hawley as costume designer, Rick Heinrichs as production designer and Jason Smith as visual effects supervisor. The team will also include Tolkien scholar Tom Shippey and artist John Howe. Bayona will direct the first two episodes.[12]

On 17 September 2019, Amazon Studios announced that the series will be filmed in New Zealand.[2]

On 18 November 2019, Amazon Studios Head Jennifer Salke announced a second season renewal for the series.[13]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic production of the series was suspended.[14] On 9 May 2020 the New Zealand Film Commission has allowed the production of film and TV to continue in the country.[15]

Casting

On 22 July 2019, it was reported that Amazon has made its first cast for the new series that Markella Kavenagh was in talks to play a character named "Tyra".[16]

Will Poulter was cast for an unknown role in September 2019[17] however in December it was reported he left the series due to scheduling conflicts.[18] This was later confirmed by Poulter in an interview.[19] He was replaced by Robert Aramayo who was reported to be playing a character named "Beldor".[20]

In October 2019 it was reported that Maxim Baldry[21] and Joseph Mawle has joined the cast, the latter playing "Oren", the lead villain of the series.[22]

In December 2019 there were reports of Ema Horvath[23] and Morfydd Clark joinining the cast, it was said that Clark is to play a "young Galadriel".[24]

On 15 January 2020, the series' official social media confirmed the castings of Kavenagh, Aramayo, Baldry, Mawle, Horvath and Clark as well as revealing new members of the cast; Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Budge, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers and Daniel Weyman.[5]

References

  1. Lesley Goldberg, "Jennifer Salke Details Amazon Plans: Fix Culture, Empower Women, 'Lord of the Rings' by 2021" dated 18 June 2018, The Hollywood Reporter (accessed 17 March 2020)
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Amazon Studios Announces New Zealand as Location for Its Upcoming Series Based on The Lord of the Rings" dated 17 September 2019, Amazon (accessed 18 September 2019)
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Welcome to the Second Age:" dated 7 March 2019, Twitter (accessed 30 January 2020)
  4. Tobias M. Eckrich, "Exclusive interview with Tom Shippey concerning LOTRonPrime" dated 29 July 2019, Deutche Tolkien Gesellschaft (accessed 6 August 2019)
  5. 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 "Meet the first members of our fellowship. #LOTRonPrime" dated 15 January 2020, Facebook (accessed 15 January 2020)
  6. Daniel Holloway, "‘Lord of the Rings’: Amazon, Warner Bros. in Talks for Series Adaptation (EXCLUSIVE)" dated 3 November 2017, Variety (accessed 30 January 2020)
  7. Joe Otterson, "‘Lord of the Rings’ Series Moving Forward at Amazon With Multi-Season Production Commitment" dated 13 November 2017, Variety (accessed 31 July 2019)
  8. 8.0 8.1 Nellie Andreeva, "Amazon Sets ‘The Lord of the Rings’ TV Series In Mega Deal With Multi-Season Commitment" dated 13 November 2017, Deadline (accessed 30 January 2020)
  9. "“I wisely started with a map” — J.R.R. Tolkien" dated 13 February 2019, Twitter (accessed 30 January 2020)
  10. "Interview with John Howe", Narnia Fans (accessed 25 June 2020)
  11. Shaun Gunner, "[1]" dated 18 February 2019, Twitter (accessed 15 February 2020)
  12. "Meet our Fellowship" dated 27 July 2019, Twitter (accessed 30 January 2020)
  13. Nellie Andreeva, "‘The Lord Of the Rings’ Series Gets Early Season 2 Renewal By Amazon, Sets Season 1 Hiatus" dated 18 November 2019, Deadline (accessed 17 March 2020)
  14. Chris Keall, "Coronavirus: Amazon's Lord of the Rings production in West Auckland shut down" dated 15 March 2020, The New Zealand Herald (accessed 17 July 2020)
  15. "Covid 19 coronavirus: Avatar, Lord Of The Rings filming resumes in NZ" dated 9 May 2020, The New Zealand Herald (accessed 17 July 2020)
  16. Joe Otterson, "‘Lord of the Rings’ Series at Amazon Taps First Cast Member (EXCLUSIVE)" dated 22 July 2019, Variety (accessed 22 October 2019)
  17. Joe Otterson, "‘Lord of The Rings’ Series at Amazon Casts Will Poulter (EXCLUSIVE)" dated 4 September 2019, Variety (accessed 22 October 2019)
  18. Joe Otterson, "‘Lord of the Rings’: Will Poulter No Longer Attached to Amazon Series (EXCLUSIVE)" dated 12 December 2019, Variety (accessed 13 December 2019)
  19. Will Richards, "Will Poulter explains why he left Amazon’s ‘Lord Of The Rings’ TV series" dated 12 July 2020, NME (accessed 17 July 2020)
  20. Nellie Andreeva, "‘The Lord Of the Rings’: Robert Aramayo To Star In Amazon TV Series" dated 7 January 2020, Deadline (accessed 15 January 2020)
  21. Jeff Sneider, "Exclusive: ‘Lord of the Rings’ TV Series Adds ‘Years and Years’ Star Maxim Baldry" dated 15 October 2019, Collider (accessed 13 December 2019)
  22. Nellie Andreeva, "‘The Lord Of The Rings’: Joseph Mawle To Star In Amazon Series" dated 21 October 2019, Deadline (accessed 22 October 2019)
  23. Nellie Andreeva, "‘The Lord Of The Rings’: Ema Horvath Joins Cast Of Amazon Series" dated 10 December 2019, Deadline (accessed 13 December 2019)
  24. Justin Kroll, "‘Lord of the Rings’ Series Taps Morfydd Clark as Young Galadriel (EXCLUSIVE)" dated 17 December 2019, Variety (accessed 4 January 2020)


External links