The streaming service Amazon has announced the main cast of the television adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. According to foreign media reports, company representatives announced the list during a meeting of the Association of Television Critics.
It is officially confirmed that the television series will involve actors Owain Arthur ("Death in Paradise"), Nazanin Boniadi ("Iron Man"), Tom Budge ("Pacific Ocean"), Ismael Cruz ("Mandalorets"), Markella Caven ("Picnic" by the Hanging Rock ”), the stars of the series“ Game of Thrones ”by Robert Aramayo and Joseph Mole, Charlie Wickers (“ Medici: The Lords of Florence ”), Daniel Weiman (“ Van Gogh: A Portrait Written in Words ”), Tyro Muhafidin, Megan Richards (“ Thirst for Wanderings ”), Dylan Smith (“ My Name is Night ”) and Sofia Nomvet.
“These exceptional talents are more than just actors. These are new members of our ever-expanding creative family, which is now tirelessly working to bring Middle-earth to fans and viewers around the world again on the screen, ”Deadline quotes project writers Patrick Mackay and John D. Payne.
It is known that the role of the young Galadriel (which was played in the Peter Jackson trilogy by Cate Blanchett) went to the Welsh actress Morfidd Clark (Dark Beginnings and Alienist).
As the media emphasize, the participation in the project of Moul, Aramayo and Caven was previously reported, but representatives of the online platform did not confirm these messages. It is noted that the actor Will Poulter (“We Are the Millers”, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Vanquisher of the Dawn”) dropped out of the team, who was supposed to play Beldor - the heir to the second king Rohan Brego.
At the same time, according to Vernon Sanders, one of the leaders of the Amazon TV division, the casting is still ongoing - filmmakers plan to try candidates for other roles.
Soil preparation
Earlier it was reported that the first two episodes will be directed by director Juan Antonio Bayon (among his last works is the full-length film Jurassic World 2). Jennifer Hutchinson, whose piggy bank has the successful project "Breaking Bad", will adapt the script; Jason Kehil, who participated in the scripting for The Soprano Clan and Ambulance; the author of “Hannibal” with Mads Mikkelsen starring Helen Shan, as well as Justin Dobl - screenwriter of “Very Strange Things”.
The consultant will be Brian Cogman, known as a screenwriter and producer of Game of Thrones. From there, Bruce Richmond also switched to the series on The Lord of the Rings. He will occupy the position of executive producer.
In July 2018, it became known that the studio involved the work of the scriptwriters Patrick Mackay and John D. Payne on the project.
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“The rich and multifaceted world created by Tolkien is full of greatness, kindness and wisdom,” Variety quotes Payne and Mackay. “We are incredibly happy to work with Amazon to revive this world on screen.” We feel like Frodo setting off on a journey from the Shire - we have a huge responsibility on our shoulders, and this is the beginning of an adventure that will be remembered for a lifetime. ”
Together with Amazon Studios, the project will be developed by Harper Collins and New Line Cinema (a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment), as well as the company and charity fund that administers the heritage of J.R. Tolkien, - The Tolkien Estate and The Tolkien Trust respectively.
The plot of the series has not yet been revealed. The action will unfold long before the events shown in the film "Brotherhood of the Ring." According to one version, the first season will be dedicated to the adventures of young Aragorn.
Amazon plans to release five seasons of the show, the first of which will have eight episodes. It is possible that viewers will see a number of spin-offs.
Filming will begin in February 2020. There is no exact date for the premiere, but it is assumed that the series will be aired in 2021. One way or another, the contract provides for the production of the first season in no more than two years - and preparation for the filming began in September 2019. Amazon has been developing the project for about three years - the company acquired international rights to a new film adaptation in 2017. They cost the studio $ 250 million.
Production costs, including the development of an adapted script, acting fees, staging special effects and other expense items, could amount to $ 1 billion.