After several months of staying silent while casting announcements broke in the entertainment press, Amazon Studios has now publicly confirmed the cast for its ambitious Lord Of The Rings TV adaptation. And, as seems fitting for such a big, expensive series, there are no less than 15 people in the initial list: Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Budge, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, and Daniel Weyman.
The company has yet to say anything about what they'll be playing, though they'll be a variety of races from Middle-earth, with some on the side of good and some (Mawle is rumoured) evil. And, not-so-shockingly, there are no new hints at when the series will be set beyond "new storylines preceding JRR Tolkien’s The Fellowship Of The Ring."
JD Payne and Patrick McKay are in overall charge of the creative side, working with director JA Bayona, who will handle the first two of the first season's eight episodes and help shape the look and tone of the show. "After undertaking an extensive global search, we are delighted finally to reveal the first group of brilliant performers who will take part in Amazon’s The Lord Of The Rings series," said Payne and McKay in a statement. "These exceptionally talented women and men are more than just our actors: they are the newest members of an ever-expanding creative family that is now working tirelessly to bring Middle-earth to life anew for fans and audiences worldwide."
The cameras will start to roll in February, though the show has built in a hiatus after the first couple of episodes are shot to allow the writing team to work on season two. And here's Everything We Know about the show so far...