One TV show to rule them all?
Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series is groundbreaking in many ways – but it has now entered the record books again as the first production to feature parts of The Silmarillion.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s collection of short stories detailing the history of Middle Earth has long been seen as the prime candidate for the next screen adaptation, and certain passages of the book have finally been licensed for Amazon’s blockbuster series.
The good news does not stop there however, as further reports suggest that Celebrimbor the ringmaker will feature, Sir Lenny Henry will play a hobbit ancestor and that Sauron will make an appearance also – just not in season one.
However news that is getting more of a mixed reaction is the announcement that the show will relocate to the UK for the production of season two, rather than return to Middle Earth’s long-term double New Zealand.
There is of course also the all-important reveal of the release date, though there is unsurprisingly quite a bit of time to go until our unexpected journey back to Middle Earth.
However, to tide us over Amazon have released a first-look image from the series, and it looks rather impressive indeed.
Tolkien purists in particular will be delighted to see the first on-screen appearance of the Two Trees of Valinor – suggesting that the show will feature scenes set even further back in time than previously thought.
Amazon’s Lord of the Rings release date
The Lord of the Rings TV series will be released on Friday 2nd September 2022 – which just so happens to be the birthday of hobbits Frodo and Bilbo Baggins aka Hobbit Day.
Episodes will then be released weekly on Amazon Prime Video.
Production on the series began in February 2020 and wrapped on 3rd August 2021 despite a delay caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Amazon also announced that shooting took a break for four or five months after the first two episodes were filmed to see what was working.
And the shoot is not cheap: an incredible $465 million is being spent on the first season of the show, making the series something of a big gamble for the streaming service.
Amazon’s Lord of the Rings cast
Headlining the ensemble cast are Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Maxim Baldry, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Trystan Gravelle, Sir Lenny Henry, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, Leon Wadham, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman, and Sara Zwangobani.
Payne and McKay serve as showrunners and executive produce with Lindsey Weber, Callum Greene, J.A. Bayona, Belén Atienza, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Bruce Richmond, and Sharon Tal Yguado. Wayne Che Yip co-executive produces, Charlotte Brändström directs, and Christopher Newman serves as producer.