Koktail speaks to the cast and showrunner of the new ‘Lord of the Rings’ TV series on carrying on its hefty legacy

Whether you’re a hardcore fan or just someone vaguely aware of its existence, The Lord of the Rings is undeniably an iconic piece of literature. JRR Tolkien’s masterpiece, originally published in 1954, has endured through the years, inspiring other works of art and adaptations like the award-winning film series. But more than that, Tolkien has been dubbed the father of modern fantasy thanks to The Lord of the Rings revitalising the fantasy genre and shaping it into what we know today. Its influence is indisputable, and its enduring legacy is set to continue with the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video today. 

For those unfamiliar with the history of the land known as Middle-earth, the brand new TV show takes place thousands of years before the events of the main trilogy and The Hobbit. It picks up in the Second Age of Middle-earth and will cover the events leading to the forging of the titular Rings of Power, including the One Ring that Frodo and the fellowship set out to destroy in the original story. 

Just one of the many breathtaking vistas rendered in ‘The Rings of Power’

From a production standpoint, The Rings of Power is one for the books. With a US$1 billion commitment from Amazon and a planned five-season run, it’s the most expensive TV show ever made and an ambitious one, considering the enormous scale of the story they’re trying to tell. As someone lucky enough to have seen the first few minutes of the first episode, it’s clear that they didn’t skimp on the budget when it comes to spectacle, but Patrick McKay, one of the showrunners and executive producers, made it clear that they weren’t just “spectacle for spectacle’s sake”.

“We were determined to realize [the show] in a way that had the scope, breadth, and depth of what we feel when we read those books,” he said. “There’s a special emotional connection in those books. It means something to people and there’s a reason for that. It’s timeless, universal, and it’s about relationships and how the smallest can overcome great evil just by being true to each other. Talking about numbers and budgets can make for a flashy headline, but we hope when people tune in, they just feel immersed in a fully realised world.”

The show is also breaking new ground in terms of the overall history of Middle-earth because this is a story that has never been told before. Tolkien didn’t write a complete novel about this part of Middle-earth’s history, and the best summarised version of the overall plot would be the first five minutes of the first LOTR film. “There’s no pressure greater than the pressure we put on ourselves,” McKay said regarding the daunting task of handling Tolkien’s legacy. “This material means a lot to us and many other people. We felt that our job and responsibility was to be true to the ideas, and when in doubt, go back to the books and then do everything in our power using all of our skills and the skills of hundreds of other amazingly talented people to faithfully render that world and bring it to the screen.”

Morfydd Clark as Galadriel

Since this is still Middle-earth, just a few thousand years younger, it’s no surprise that there are familiar things that pop up now and then. Sauron, the big bad of the trilogy, is unsurprisingly a major player here. Tolkien fans will also recognize Númenor; the island kingdom referenced in the films and books will be a major location in the show. There are also some familiar faces like Elrond, played by Hugo Weaving in the films and now played by Robert Aramayo, and Galadriel, originally played by Cate Blanchett. Welsh actress Morfydd Clark takes on the role for The Rings of Power.

“She’s younger, but she’s still already thousands of years old,” Clark said. “There was a lot of discussion about what it means to have an element of youth as someone who’s been around for millennia. Galadriel at some point speaks about how with wisdom, there’s a loss of innocence, and I found that really useful.”

Joining Clark is also a slew of relatively fresh faces to make up an ensemble cast, but what unites all of them is the excitement to bring this era of Middle-earth to life. When asked what their reaction was when they discovered they had gotten their roles, Charlie Vickers who plays Halbrand said, “I was in bed half-asleep. My agent told me I wouldn’t hear anything until Monday, so I slept in on Saturday, but then I got the call, so it was a shock.” Tyroe Muhafidin who plays Theo recalled, “I was on the train on the way to school with my friends. My mom sent a message to the family group chat, and I remember reading it and freaking out. I was so happy and couldn’t stop smiling. All my friends thought I was being weird because I was just sitting there smiling at my phone.”

But arguably the greatest story comes from Clark herself. “I found out during the screening of a film I was in and I passed out during the Q&A. I hope it doesn’t happen the next time I’m cast in something. It was an extreme reaction!” 

Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is now available to stream on Prime Video