Amazon's big budget Tolkien's Lord of the Rings are far from straightforward, with both the main trilogy and The Hobbit under the ownership of Tolkien Enterprises, and the author's son retaining the remainder of the material. That situation changed with Christopher Tolkien's retirement, and now Amazon are producing a big-budget TV series set within Middle-earth's Second Age. Details are currently scarce, but Amazon have renewed the show for a second season already, have confirmed the series will feature characters fans know and love and have also cast actors such as Will Poulter and Joseph Mawle.
One major unknown has been whether or not Gandalf and Peter Jackson's involvement in the production remains a possibility, with the director claiming he'd see if he could "help them along." Considering Amazon's series will also be shot in New Zealand, signs suggested that the show could exist within the same adaptation crafted by Jackson. More recently, however, Morfydd Clark was cast as Galadriel, heavily suggesting the new series wouldn't be a continuation.
This could prove to be a wise decision for several reasons. Firstly, Peter Jackson's involvement, if indeed there is any, looks sure to be minimal. Both Amazon and Jackson have remained vague on exactly how far the renowned director will be involved. Certainly, it appears that Amazon have courted Jackson's input in some capacity, but the man himself is understandably reluctant to return for more Middle-earth shenanigans. If Peter Jackson is to have a role on Amazon's Lord of the Rings series, it will be purely in an advisory position. Consequently, it's more logical to adapt Tolkien's work afresh, rather than building from an established franchise. Although many would argue later efforts disappointed, all 6 of Jackson's Middle-earth movies have been labors of love from the director and helped establish common traits that have now become synonymous with him. If Jackson won't be involved at the heart of the Amazon series, it makes sense not to try and replicate the movies' world without him.
In of returning characters, there are plenty of familiar faces who were around in the Second Age. The wizards exist during this period, and although they don't appear in Middle-earth until the early Third Age, there might be some room for narrative leeway. More likely, Amazon's Lord of the Rings will have its own central characters, and delving too far into Jackson's cinematic big-name catalog runs the risk of overshadowing everyone else. If the TV show establishes that McKellen's Gandalf or Weaving's Elrond exist, their presence automatically becomes the focal point of the story.
Finally, while sticking with the world and characters fans know and love might seem like a solid move from a marketing perspective, the trilogy of Hobbit movies demonstrate the potential pitfalls a Lord of the Rings prequel might bring. Although Jackson's second trilogy was troubled by behind-the-scenes upheaval and unrealistic deadlines, the movies also attracted criticism for trying to be relevant to the original trilogy unnecessarily, rather than just sticking to the core story of The Hobbit. In exploring Middle-earth's Second Age, Amazon might fall foul of the same issue, focusing more on setting up the Lord of the Rings story than telling its own tale.
Amazon's The Lord of the Rings TV series is currently without a release date. More news as it arrives.
