The series begins production this month in New Zealand.
It's been a long time coming, but Amazon's billion-dollar 'Lord of the Rings' TV series is finally entering production later this month in COVID-free New Zealand.
The new series will be set thousands of years before the events of 'Lord of the Rings' and its prequel, 'The Hobbit'. Instead, the series will - according to a full synopsis released on TheOneRing.net - bring viewers "back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness."
So far, a number of actors have been cast, including the likes of Peter Mullan, 'Game of Thrones' alum Robert Aramayo, as well as a host of upcoming stars, but absolutely zero information on who they're playing. As well as this, it so far looks like none of the original cast are returning for their roles, as they've either aged out of their role or their characters aren't in the story.
No air date has been set by Amazon so far, however if production is due to begin this month, it's likely that it won't hit screens until 2022 at the very earliest.
Here's the synopsis.
"Amazon Studios’ forthcoming series brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings', and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness."
"Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone."
For you non-Tolkien devotees out there, Númenor is where Aragorn comes from, so don't be at all surprised if those rumours of a young Aragorn turn out to be true. All in all, it's pretty vague stuff, but the mention of Númenor and Lindon - neither of which featured in any of the movies - is definitely interesting.
As they say, all will be revealed in good time.