The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series

i completely forgot they were even making this

By default we've been tracking this on the podcast. It's all been very weird -- on the one hand, lots of firm commitments (they've already renewed for a second season, Bayona's been in Auckland for at least a month now, etc.), on the other hand a lot of weird caginess -- the slowly dribbled out casting stories via Variety/Deadline, none of which have been confirmed specifically by Amazon, and otherwise only a few local press mentions in NZ itself. It's strange to say but they've been a lot clearer about casting for The Wheel of Time, which is also a big Amazon production. (WoT also noticeably has been a lot more varied in its cast -- let's just say that even with potential limitations of the source material, the cast for this series has been pretty pale so far.)

(My cohost Oriana has had some TV writing room experience, and even she's been puzzled at how some of this has been happening.)

how would a cast for a tolkien adaption NOT be pretty pale?

Does NED RAGGETT smoke pipe-weed?

xpost Thus my notes re limitations, you see.

Okay, an actual formal cast listing at fucking last. No word on what specific roles each will be playing, though. (Also notable: non-white actors!)

A grand journey is defined by its travelers. Meet the first members of our fellowship. #LOTRonPrime. A THREAD.

— The Lord of the Rings on Prime (@LOTRonPrime) January 14, 2020

nazanin boniadi! I was so mad they killed her on Homeland I quit watching it.

I watch way too much shit but I have absolutely no idea who any of these ppl are

I don't know what's wrong with my eyes but I initially misread their hashtag as #LOTRonLifetime. If only, right?

Nazanin Boniadi:
http://https%3A//www.iranhumanrights.org/wp-content/uploads/001-en-28-1-e1559760285301.jpg

well fuck that

https://www.iranhumanrights.org/wp-content/uploads/001-en-28-1-e1559760285301.jpg

I have no idea who anyone else is though.

joseph mawle was the guy who played uncle benjen in GOT

right, how could I forget such an iconic character? how foolish of me

i didn't remember until i imdb'd him just now!

Uncle Benjen: one of 300 bearded guys

NEW ON AMAZON

BOMBADIL - THE EARLY YEARS

LOT RON PRIME

L. Ron Prime.

https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2016/10/21/helvey_wide-b38acee7ab487c0ffb51b29b970bd9c45b948d57-s800-c85.jpg

LOT, UP THE I(RON)S PRIME

BOMBADILSTHETICS: The Modern Science of Dancing and Singing merrily in Primeval Forests

New news...sorta, kinda, maybe.

https://www.theonering.net/torwp/2020/12/03/109157-amazon-studios-announces-wave-2-of-casting-for-lord-of-the-rings-tv-show/

I admit I didn't expect to see Lenny Henry in this cast but here we are.

(There is still NO formal word about who is playing what role in this thing, and the only one that has been more or less confirmed elsewhere is Morfydd Clark as Galadriel.)

I had somehow forgotten that Galadriel was Arwen's grandma. Is their relationship ever discussed in more depth in The SimilarMarillion?

There's more of it in Unfinished Tales but it's never quite delved into. Celebrian being such a shadowy character didn't help.

into return of the king now with my 9-y-o. i had completely forgotten about “prince imrahil”! he feels very...... unnecessary

He kinda rules, I love Tolkien's random side digressions like that.

so mysterious that he is given no identifying features

like at one point tolkien just refers to "the prince" and we're like "who he"

I guess Tolkien needed a Gondorian lord to lead the beginning of the battle, given how all of the others are indisposed in way or another.

ok i can see that but.. aragorn gets there pretty quick (in the end). god the black sails moment gets me. "CORSAIRS!!"

the eowyn / merry moment is fucking glorious too. gandalf's like 'meriadoc you should have been borne into the city in glory!' and i'm like yes someone gets it

into return of the king now with my 9-y-o.

this sounds amazing <3

Eowyn vs. the Witch King was absolutely thrilling at that age.

imrahil was cool, tho i agree it was weird that he spent so much time emphasizing that gondor had no king without mentioning that they do have a lord who calls himself prince

That's...a lot.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/amazons-lord-of-the-rings-cost-465-million-one-season

I don't understand the economics of streaming but stuff like this and the Knives Out thing feel like there's something fishy going on

As @JamesHibberd notes in the story, the average season of "Game of Thrones" came in around $100 million. Holy cow. https://t.co/8RwZheLrAv

— Rick Porter (@rickporter) April 16, 2021

amazon is making 20+ billion in profits, annually, these days. weird thinking that they can totally pay off this show in a couple weeks

Just learned that WandaVision cost $225 million and the other Disney+ Marvel shows will also cost around $25m per episode

Some thoughts

NOTE FOR THE NEW LOTR: There's no reason why all characters in fantasy shows have to just have different types of British accents. They're not speaking English. Give all the dwarves really thick Bronx accents and make the elves Canadian.

— Ben Jenkins (@bencjenkins) April 19, 2021

Give Saruman the Snagglepuss voice, Tolkien's dead, he can't hurt you.

— Ben Jenkins (@bencjenkins) April 19, 2021

And all the guards should come in pairs, one of whom is named Jeremy and hates his job, and one who is enthusiastic and optimistic. I see where this is going.

— James Radvan (@jamesradvan) April 19, 2021

There is a further suggestion to have Saruman voiced by Joe Pasquale

Sauron's let himself go

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2CGryAkxkM

Some actual info!

EXCLUSIVE: Official final contract signed between Amazon studios, GSR Production and New Zealand Film Commission for #LOTRonPrime . The post Covid agreements and marketing/ production plans for the entirety of season 1 up until release.

1/7 pic.twitter.com/qrDs5Lp2Sq

— Fellowship of Fans (@FansFellowship) June 12, 2021

Okay a lot going on here

https://www.theonering.net/torwp/2021/07/20/110907-spy-report-incredible-details-from-amazons-lord-of-the-rings-characters-sexless-nudity-halflings/

sexless-nudity-halflings

Oh great, another Tolkien-themed band.

The stuff about a fake decoy production to distract attention from the actual filming is just nuts, can that really be true?

I was wondering about that too. Sounds pretty expensive.

Then again, Amazon, money to burn, etc.

sexless-nudity-halflings

I'm so conflicted.

Please don't fuck up The Fall of Gondolin.