Amazon Studios has rounded out the cast for its Lord of the Rings series with 20 new additional cast members.
Update (12/3/2020): In a press release sent out on Thursday (December 3), Amazon Studios announced 20 new additions to the ensemble cast for its highly anticipated Lord of the Rings series.
The show’s newest cast members include Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Maxim Baldry, Ian Blackburn, Kip Chapman, Anthony Crum, Maxine Cunliffe, Trystan Gravelle, Sir Lenny Henry, Thusitha Jayasundera, Fabian McCallum, Simon Merrells, Geoff Morrell, Peter Mullan, Lloyd Owen, Augustus Prew, Peter Tait, Alex Tarrant, Leon Wadham, Benjamin Walker and Sara Zwangobani.
The newest cast members to sign on hail from New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In a statement announcing the newest additions to the cast, shworunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay spoke of the importance of locking in an international cast to help bring J.R.R. Tolkien’s world to life.
“The world that J.R.R. Tolkien created is epic, diverse, and filled with heart. These extraordinarily talented performers, hailing from across the globe, represent the culmination of a multi-year search to find brilliant and unique artists to bring that world to life anew,” said the showrunners. The international cast of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings series is more than just an ensemble. It is a family. We are thrilled to welcome each of them to Middle-earth.”
The series, which is set in Middle-earth, is set to explore new storylines which precede Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. Specific plot details are being kept fairly close to the chest for now, so it’s looking like we’ll have to sit tight before we find out more about who the aforementioned actions will play, and how they’ll fit into the fold of things.
Read up on who else has already joined the cast of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series below!
Original Story (1/14/2020):
Amazon Studios has officially set its cast for the highly-anticipated Lord of the Rings series.
In a press release sent out on Tuesday (January 14), Amazon revealed that actors Robert Aramayo (Antebellum), Owain Arthur (Babylon), Nazanin Boniadi (Bombshell), Tom Budge (Gallipoli), Morfydd Clark (Dracula), Ismael Cruz Córdovan (Mary Queen of Scots), Ema Horvath (Vicious), Markella Kavenagh (Furlough), Joseph Mawle (Game of Thrones), Tyroe Muhafidin (Two Sands), Sophia Nomvete (Vice Versa), Megan Richards (Wanderlust), Dylan Smith (The Maze Runner: The Death Cure), Charlie Vickers (Medici: Masters of Florence), and Daniel Weyman (The Happy Prince) have all officially joined the cast of the upcoming Lord of the Rings series.
Fans who’ve been keeping up with production news surrounding the project might recognize a few names from previously announced casting rumors. Even so, it’s great to get official confirmation with regards to the first wave of casting.
In a joint statement sent out after the cast reveal, showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, revealed that today’s huge casting news comes after carrying out “an extensive global search” to find the perfect actors for the job.
“After undertaking an extensive global search, we are delighted to finally reveal the first group of brilliant performers who will take part in Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings series,” said McKay and Payne. “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.”
Behind the camera, J.A. Bayona (Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom) will serve as the series’ director for the first two episodes. Bayona will also serve as an executive producer along with Belen Atienza, Lindsey Weber, Bruce Richmond, Gene Kelly, Sharon Tal Yguado, Gennifer Hutchinson, Jason Cahill, and Justin Doble.
Amazon’s upcoming Lord of the Rings series will bring Tolkien fans back to Middle-earth, and explore storylines that precede The Fellowship of the Ring.
The eight-episode first season is set to begin production in February, but there’s currently no word on when we can expect the series to premiere via Amazon Prime.