Netflix and HBO nearly took us back to the Third Age of Middle-earth instead of the Rings of Power.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Rings of Power wasn’t the only Lord of the Rings show presented at Tolkien’s estate.
HBO basically launched a remake of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but Tolkien’s estate apparently wasn’t interested in a revamp. As for Netflix, they presented several shows, including a Gandalf series and an Aragorn drama.
“They took the Marvel approach,” an insider told THR. “And it completely freaked out the field.”
Ultimately, they went with The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power – the new fantasy series that debuts weekly on Amazon.
Set thousands of years before The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, it tells the story of the Second Age of Middle-earth – covering major events such as the forging of the Rings of Power and the rise of Sauron.
Developed by JD Payne and Patrick McKay, The Rings of Power was well received by fans and critics alike… but it seems they weren’t the only names in the mix to bring Tolkien’s works to television.
“The people we were up against have resumes that, on paper, would be more suitable for the job,” McKay said. “We were the dark horse candidates.”
Other prospects included the Russo Brothers, known for their work in the Marvel Universe. An insider told THR that they pitched The Third Age “like an Aragorn story,” but that never happened.
Another strong contender was Oscar-nominated filmmaker Anthony McCarten, who offered a Shakespearean take on Middle-earth. But despite Payne and McKay’s inexperience, they eventually won over the Tolkiens – a story worthy of any Baggins, for sure.
IGN’s review of The Rings of Power’s debut gave it 8/10 and said, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power tells its own story using Tolkien’s lore as its basis, and the first two episodes make a solid case. for why does this story deserve to be told with such extravagance.”
Want to know more about The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? Find out how the show confirmed a long-contested Lord of the Rings plot point as well as when you can watch each new episode.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment reporter and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.