Amazon's Lord of the Rings 'Admires' Peter Jackson's Trilogy, But Doesn't Copy It

Amazon's Lord of the Rings 'Admires' Peter Jackson's Trilogy, But Doesn't Copy It

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power won't be trying to "compete" with Peter Jackson's legendary film trilogy when the first one is released later this year.

That's according to co-showrunner Patrick McKay, who told Empire magazine (opens in a new tab) that The Rings of Power does not attempt to replicate the award-winning work Jackson and company did on his The Rings of Power film series. Señor de los Anillos.

As The Rings of Power is set in the Second Age, an era before the events of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, it's understandable why comparisons have been drawn between the Prime Video show and Jackson's film adaptations. Amazon's The Lord of the Rings series is positioning itself as a high-profile, multi-narrative show that draws primarily from fantasy, but draws from other genres. Given how Jackson's films have done the same thing and how influential they have been on the fantasy genre over the past two decades, it would be a mistake if The Rings of Power's core creative team didn't look to his two film trilogies for inspiration. .

Still, while McKay admitted that he and co-creator JD Payne are "fans" of Jackson's works, it would be foolish for the pair to try to copy his plan for the Prime Video TV series.

“Anyone who approaches The Lord of the Rings on screen would be wrong not to think how wonderfully correct it is. he had so many,” McKay said. “But we are fans from afar, that's all. The Rings of Power don't try to compete with him."

Released between 2001 and 2003, Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy is one of the most important and successful fantasy film series of all time. The three films have grossed $2990 ​​billion at the worldwide box office, while the trio have won numerous awards (including a record-tying 11 Oscars at the 76th Academy Awards in 2004) across multiple disciplines. The Hobbit trilogy was less successful, at least in terms of prize money, between 2012 and 2014, but still made €2.93 billion in ticket sales worldwide.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power won't come close to matching those numbers — it is a TV show, after all — but Amazon Studios hopes to attract new subscribers to its streaming service. The Rings of Power will be released exclusively on Prime Video on September 2, 2022.

Analysis: entering a new era

Galadriel scales an ice cap in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

A young Galadriel will be one of the main characters of the Rings of Power. (Image credit: Amazon Studios)

It makes sense that Payne, McKay and company would not seek to replicate Jackson's iconic works. Comparisons are already being made between The Rings of Power and Jackson's two film trilogies, with fans of the latter, and JRR Tolkien fans in general, divided over Amazon's decision to even make Lord of the Power a TV show.

Distancing the series from what preceded it is therefore a smart move. Of course, parallels will always be drawn between The Rings of Power and other live-action adaptations of Tolkien's works. But Amazon's The Lord of the Rings deserves the opportunity to prove that it will be a worthwhile investment, both for Amazon studios and for the public, without fear of being canceled before release.

It also helps that The Rings of Power draws from elements of Lord of the Rings lore rather than directly adapting beloved tales like the Jackson trilogies did. Yes, Amazon's The Lord of the Rings is set in the Second Age, but it will tell original stories, set in Middle-earth, in and around the major events, battles, and the rise and fall of civilizations that take place in this moment.

Add the introduction of new characters, as well as the elaboration of the stories of the main cast, including Galadriel, Elrond, Isildur, and Durin IV, into the equation, and The Rings of Power has free rein, which is approved by Tolkien's mastery, anyway. - take the Lord of the Rings franchise in a new direction. As long as the show maintains the lore of Middle-earth and all that came before it, it should ring (pun totally intended) in a new era for Tolkien's legendary series.

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