In the post-Game Of Thrones landscape, everyone is clamoring to conjure up the next mega fantasy smash on the small screen – and Amazon’s hope for that is a Lord Of The Rings prequel TV series. While Tolkien’s Middle-earth has always come to the screen through the lens of Peter Jackson, at least in live action form, Amazon has just signed up a director to helm the first two episodes of its Rings series – J.A. Bayona.
As reported by Deadline, the filmmaker – who last helmed Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and also directed the likes of tsunami drama The Impossible, emotional fantasy-drama A Monster Calls, and gothic horror The Orphanage – is on board to shoot the opening instalments. “J.R.R. Tolkien created one of the most extraordinary and inspiring stories of all time, and as a lifelong fan it is an honor and a joy to join this amazing team,” he said. “I can’t wait to take audiences around the world to Middle-earth and have them discover the wonders of the Second Age, with a never before seen story.”
As well as directing, Bayona will executive produce along with Belén Atienza. “We are thrilled to have J.A. and Belen joining the fellowship as we continue to develop this epic series,” writers JD Payne and Patrick McKay said. “We have been great admirers of J.A.’s work for years, and know that his epic, cinematic, and deeply heartfelt aesthetic is the perfect sensibility to bring Middle-earth to life anew.”
This won’t be Bayona’s first time directing for TV – he also helmed the first two instalments of Penny Dreadful in 2014. Now that the director is on board, expect more information about further casting and production to roll in in the coming months.