By: Olivia Ong
Amazon’s highly-anticipated Lord of the Rings series is set to premiere on September 2, 2022 on Prime Video. The beloved adaptation based on the novels of J. R. R. Tolkien will be released across 240 countries worldwide, with new episodes coming weekly.
The official title of the show has yet to be revealed, and the only glimpse at the plot is that it will take place “thousands of years before the events of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books.”. The series will follow an ensemble cast of both new and familiar characters as they face the possible re-emergence of evil in Middle-earth.
“I can’t express enough just how excited we all are to take our global audience on a new and epic journey through Middle-earth! Our talented producers, cast, creative, and production teams have worked tirelessly in New Zealand to bring this untold and awe-inspiring vision to life.” said Head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke.
Filming of the first season finally wrapped up on August 2 in New Zealand, and Amazon already announced a multi-season production commitment. The series will be produced under J.D. Payne & Patrick McKay as the series’ showrunners and executive producers along with Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
“As Bilbo says, ‘Now I think I am quite ready to go on another journey.’ Living and breathing Middle-earth these many months has been the adventure of a lifetime. We cannot wait for fans to have the chance to do so as well,” said Payne and McKay.
Amazon announced their intentions of creating the prequel series back in 2017, and the announcement immediately garnered attention for its reported production budget with The Hollywood Reporter saying that the production of one season alone would cost more than $450 million.
Featured photo from Amazon