On Monday night, Middle-earth returns to the big screen at the world premiere of Amazon’s long-awaited prequel series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. At Amazon Prime Video’s Culver Studios headquarters, the show’s cast and creators gathered to kick off the most expensive TV show in small-screen history.
With an impressive price of 1 billion USD for 5 seasons, the first season alone cost 465 million USD. It was an ambitious undertaking, perhaps a necessary undertaking, given the success of The Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson’s trilogy of films in the early 2000s.
“I remember when Lord of the Rings When the TV show was first mentioned, everyone’s immediate reaction was “Why did they remake the movie”, right? ‘ said Charles Edwards, who played Celebrimbor in the series. Nothing is certain, but there’s plenty of scope for you to just rummage through the clothes box a bit and see what you can pull out.”
Despite many comparisons to the existing and beloved Jackson trio, the hosts behind The Ring of Power carefully shied away from what had been done before in the adaptation of Tolkien’s work.
“I can say that we are huge admirers of Peter’s films,” said co-presenter and executive producer Patrick McKay. “We were there the opening night for each movie because they were really great and there was a lot that made them understand very well what we loved about those books. I think if we thought about trying to compete with those people or live up to them, we would run away. Alike Monty Python‘Escape!'”
“I think where we really came in was going back to the books and finding new stories, new textures and new flavors that Tolkien felt was authentic that we probably hadn’t seen on screen before, ” he continued. “That makes it all a little easier to imagine, like maybe there’s a way.”
Similarly, the cast thought of Jackson’s adaptation as an inspiration rather than a threat throughout filming.
“It has to be like,” said Morfydd Clark, who played Galadriel, a cameo from Cate Blanchett in the original trilogy. Think freer travel. I watched those movies so many times, I was 11 years old when they came out. It’s just another wonderful thing to have on top of the hundreds of thousands of pages of Tolkien’s books, and then these incredible movies, to see what these characters will eventually become.”
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Composer Bear McCreary, known for his work on other fantasy projects such as Outlander and Black Sailechoes a similar sentiment, as he seeks to create a piece of music that complements existing music, but is also different in its tone.
“I know Jackson’s films very well, but I have also watched them many times. How can I write a musical note without being affected by Lord of the Rings? Everything I did was influenced by Lord of the Rings,” said McCreary. “In many ways, it is trying to create a continuum. Its [also] contrast. We are in the second age, not the third. Elves and Dwarves Special Music [in the trilogy] – so sad. They are the dying. Everything Howard Shore has written has a sadness and melancholy. In the second era [of Rings of Power], those two kingdoms, in particular, are at the top. They’re great. We can see them in all their majesty. So it’s continuous, but it’s really not the same. “
Before launching in September, Rings of Power coming just two weeks after HBO’s highly anticipated premiere Game of Thrones prequel Dragon’s House. While it may be a streamers war, Ring of Power cast ensures that there is room for everyone in the fantasy space.
“As much as possible!” Sophia Nomvete, who joins the cast as Princess Disa, said. “People will have a lot to see. Get ready, the popcorn industry will grow ‘ching!’ Of course, there is a place for all of us. I’m excited to see those boys.”
“There was definitely a lot of support from all the actors,” Clark added of the close friendship that Ring of Power Actor got with the guy on at Dragon’s House. “There’s a lot to ask of you when you’re involved in something this big.”
Stepping out of a noisy panel at Comic Con’s Hall H, the cast is excited for audiences to finally see what they’ve been up to over the past three years. Benjamin Walker – who plays High King Gil-galad – said: “I hope they take away the love and respect that we showed in the original material. “Anyone who is worried we won’t take care of it will just say ‘Oh no, we didn’t just take care of it, we put our love into it.’
Cynthia Addai-Robinson, who portrayed Queen Regent Miriel on the show said: “Tolkien’s literature is something so vast and dense, that there are many kinds of adaptations. “We are just one of the few. And I’m sure there will be many more after us.”
In addition to the cast and crew, Michael B. Jordan, Cynthia Erivo, Catherine Hardwicke, Yvette Nicole Brown, Allegra Edwards and Jeff Bezos were also present.
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