After getting word that Australian actress Markella Kavenagh was in talks for a lead role in Amazon's upcoming series based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, it's been announced that MIDSOMMAR and THE MAZE RUNNER franchise alum Will Poulter has been cast as one of the show's lead characters. His role is of course being kept under wraps for the time being, as Amazon will want to play the nature of this ambitious project close to their chest until all is ready to be revealed.
Poulter arrived on the Hollywood scene in 2007 when he played the role of Lee Carter for director Gareth Jennings' SON OF RAMBOW. In 2018, Poulter became a featured player on the character-based sketch show SCHOOL OF COMEDY. From there, Poulter was cast for several notable projects, including WE'RE THE MILLERS, THE REVENANT, and BLACK MIRROR's much talked about BANDERSNATCH episode. Most recently, the DETROIT actor voiced the character Andrew for THE DARK PICTURES: LITTLE HOPE video game. THE DARK PICTURES episodic video game series hails from Supermassive Games, who in 2015 unleashed the outstanding "choose your own adventure" style game UNTIL DAWN.
Amazon Studios has tapped THE ORPHANAGE and JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM helmer J.A. Bayona to direct multiple episodes of their upcoming series based on J.R.R. Tolkien's world-famous work. Bayona will be the first to tackle Tolkien's prolific high-fantasy epic after Peter Jackson delivered six films set in the author's world of wizards, elves, and Hobbits who venture far beyond the comfort of their Shire to protect the one ring that rules them all. Set in Middle Earth, the TV series will explore new stories and characters from before the events of Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring.
Back in February, the project's official Twitter account rolled out a map for the upcoming series, along with two messages: “One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them, In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie,” as well as “Welcome to the Second Age.” In the Tolkien mythology, the Second Age was the time in which the Rings of Power, including Sauron’s One Ring, came into existence. (via Variety)
In addition to directing two episodes for the highly-anticipated series that boasts a screenplay written by JD Payne and Patrick McKay, Bayona will also executive produce with the aid of his producing partner Belén Atienza. Joining them for the effort are executive producers Lindsey Weber, Bruce Richmond, Gene Kelly, and Amazon’s former head of genre programming Sharon Tal Yguado. More creatives are heading to Tolkien's world of war and fantasy as well, such as writer and executive producer Gennifer Hutchison; writer and executive producer Jason Cahill; writer and executive producer Justin Doble; consulting producer Stephany Folsom; producer Ron Ames; writer and co-producer Helen Shang; and writing consultant Glenise Mullins. Bayona will also executive produce along with his partner Belén Atienza. (via Variety)