Amazon is making a TV adaptation of the prequel to, arguably, the greatest fantasy series of all time. The story already carries a multi-season commitment and will “explore new storylines preceding J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring.”
It’s possible that this new series will take inspiration from the Silmarillion for material and Amazon said that the deal could also have potential for a spin-off series as well but this presumably depends on the popularity of the show.
“‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a cultural phenomenon that has captured the imagination of generations of fans through literature and the big screen,” said Sharon Tal Yguado, head of scripted series for Amazon Studios. “We are honored to be working with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins and New Line on this exciting collaboration for television and are thrilled to be taking ‘The Lord of the Rings; fans on a new epic journey in Middle Earth.”
As of now, Amazon has been pretty good with it’s Originals but this series will be far beyond the scope of anything its studios and partners have attempted. The company is partnering with New Line Cinema, the film company behind the much-loved trilogy that was first released in 2001.
A cast for the TV series has not yet been announced.