Top 10 Things We Want to See in Amazon's Lord of the Rings Series
One show to bind them? Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we'll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Things We Want to See in Amazon's Lord of the Rings Series.
For this list, we're taking a look at potential ideas and recommendations for Amazon's proposed television series based on J. R. R. Tolkien's legendary work.
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#10: Exploration of Arda
We all know that “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” take place in Middle-earth. However, people often forget that this continent is just a fraction of an even larger world known as Arda. While Middle-earth has been well covered in film, video games, and other media, we’ve seen very little of places like Númenor. Since exploration plays a significant role in the Tolkienverse, this series could step outside of the franchise’s comfort zone and delve into uncharted territory. The show could even provide further insight into Eru Ilúvatar, the supreme deity that created this universe. It's a big world out there and we’ve only scratched the surface.
#9: Something Different from a “Game of Thrones” Clone
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When “Game of Thrones” premiered in 2011, people generally saw it as HBO’s TV response to “The Lord of the Rings.” Now that Amazon is eyeing a “Lord of the Rings” series, people are ironically calling it their response to “Game of Thrones.” There are definitely parallels between these two fantasy franchises and Tolkien’s impact on George R. R. Martin is evident. Whereas “A Song of Ice and Fire” is aimed at adult readers, however, “The Hobbit” is a children’s book. Even “The Lord of the Rings,” which gets quite dark, balances matters out with lots of whimsy. We hope this show stays true to Tolkien’s vision and doesn’t merely cash in on trends that are currently popular.
#8: Peter Jackson Directing the Pilot
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Since many deemed Tolkien’s books unfilmable, it looked like Ralph Bakshi’s 1978 animated version was the closest we’d ever get. Peter Jackson proved the naysayers wrong in 2001 when he miraculously brought Middle-earth to life. Jackson’s take on “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy would ultimately earn him a Best Director Oscar. While he divided some of the fanbase with his “Hobbit” trilogy, we can all agree that the guy hasn’t lost his knack for epic set pieces. Since Jackson’s made six blockbuster films set in Middle-earth, it’s only fitting that he return to direct the pilot of this series. Who better to establish the show’s look and tone than the filmmaker who made the impossible a reality?
#7: Shooting It In New Zealand
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Before “The Fellowship of the Ring” hit theaters, New Zealand was a (relatively) obscure island country east of Australia. Now it’s a giant tourist trap that’s practically synonymous with Middle-earth. New Zealand was the primary shooting spot for all six Peter Jackson movies – a fitting choice given the country’s naturally picturesque scenery. As far as we’re concerned, Matamata IS the Shire and Mount Ngauruhoe IS Mount Doom. If this Amazon series were filmed anywhere else, it’d just feel out of place and distracting. Location is key to any fantasy epic and if the audience isn’t fully immersed in the environment, then the magic will wear off rather quickly.
#6: The Original Cast Appearing in Cameos
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Just as New Zealand will forever be Middle-earth in our minds, we’ve grown accustomed to the cast that portrayed these beloved characters on the silver screen. It’s possible, though, that this Amazon series won’t center on the characters we met in “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit,” and we’d be okay with that. After all, “The Return of the King” and even “The Battle of the Five Armies” left virtually everyone on the right note. If any fan favorites pop up in cameos or supporting roles, however, we’d love to see the original actors reprise their iconic roles. Nobody can fill Elijah Wood’s shoes as Frodo Baggins. Well, hobbits don’t really wear shoes, but you get the point.
#5: More Female Characters
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Looking back at the source material, it’s safe to say the male characters in these stories get the most attention, by a landslide. With their adaptations, Jackson and company made an effort to give the female characters more to do. For example, it’s Arwen who rescues the hobbits in the first movie. In “The Desolation of Smaug,” the filmmakers introduced a strong-willed, female elf named Tauriel. While this character wasn’t in any of the books, she was a welcome addition to an otherwise male-dominated tale. Amazon could do something similar, although any original characters would have to be well-written to fit into the Middle-earth canon. We don’t just want a token character.
#4: Stories from Other Books in the Canon
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After Jackson directed “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and somehow stretched “The Hobbit” into three movies, you wouldn’t think there’d be much left to draw on. However, there are a few other books that are part of Tolkien's legendarium, although they were published posthumously. “The Silmarillion” delves into the universe of Eä and the Ages of the Children of Ilúvatar. “Unfinished Tales” offers more details on characters and settings from previous works, even touching upon Gandalf’s origins. “The History of Middle-earth” consists of 12 whole volumes, providing more than enough material for a television series. Since some of Tolkien’s stories are incomplete, though, the showrunners would have to fill in a few blanks.
#3: Expansion of Backstories
As mentioned, Tolkien provided a greater understanding of Gandalf’s backstory in “Unfinished Tales.” Amazon could actually build an entire series around the five wizards of Middle-earth, aka the Istari. They aren’t the only ones worthy of an origin story. The show could revolve around Sauron, depicting his days as a lieutenant to the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, and eventually work up to the forging of the One Ring. It’d be interesting to see Aragorn’s early years as a Ranger too. From Galadriel to Elrond to Isildur to Théoden, there’s no shortage of strong characters to develop further. Also, the Orcs still don’t have an official complex origin story, so maybe that’s something to consider.
#2: Setting It During the 1st & 2nd Ages of Middle-earth
Taking place after the initial defeat of Sauron, the Third Age of Middle-earth is pretty fleshed out throughout “The Hobbit” and “Lord of The Rings.” So why not tackle the first two ages next? The Elder Days saw both the rise and fall of Morgoth, not to mention the creation of Arda’s various races. During the Second Age, the Rings of Power were made, the War of the Elves and Sauron took place, the Ringwraiths appeared . . . and that’s not even the tip of the iceberg. There’s also the Fourth Age, which occurred after the One Ring was destroyed. Of course little has been written about that era, meaning the showrunners would need to get creative.
#1: Not Just Remaking the Movies
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One does not simply remake “The Lord of the Rings” movies. The original trilogy won a total of 17 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, while the Middle-earth film franchise on the whole grossed over $5 billion. If Amazon tells the same story over again, it’d be borderline unnecessary. Granted, a television series could tackle characters and events that were cut from the movies for time. More doesn’t necessarily equal better, though. As far as adaptations go, Jackson and his crew already hit it out of the park. We’ve been there once and don’t need to go back again. Give us something fresh, Amazon, and then maybe this will be the series to rule them all.
