With the success of both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the multi-media Star Wars universe growing all the time, it’s no surprise that other franchises have begun considering the possibilities of telling multiple stories set in the same world, often through more than one medium. And with Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings prequel show headed our way, it’s possible J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth could become the foundation of another expansive fictional universe.
Peter Jackson’s movie trilogies based on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit have already brought multiple stories from Tolkien’s novels to our screens, but Tolkien invented a lot of history for his fictional world, and those films could just be the beginning. Amazon’s show will explore the Second Age of Middle-earth, back when Sauron was coming into his power long before Bilbo or Frodo were born. Monolith Software games Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War also expand on the worlds Tolkien built, creating new characters and new storylines surrounding the Rings of Power. And The Silmarillion, Tolkien’s account of the First Age of Middle-earth, is just sitting there waiting for someone to adapt, as a TV show, movie, video game or something else.
With more and more content inspired by Middle-earth surfacing, it’s easy to see how Tolkien’s universe could be the next to expand — but while many fans will enjoy seeing creators take Tolkien’s work to new places, just as many diehard Lord of the Rings fans will resist making changes to the author’s work. After all, Tolkien’s novels are considered classics and often lauded as masterpieces. There are plenty of fans who will view stretching his work to something out so it better resembles the blockbuster factory that is the MCU as a cheap and shallow move — and if handled poorly, they may well be right.
Even the MCU and the Star Wars Universe have seen their fair share of criticism for beating the proverbial dead horse. (Palpatine’s return, anyone?) Although there are still stories to be told in Middle-earth, too much emphasis on one area or one line of history may actually leave fans exasperated rather than enthralled.
So, yes, Tolkien’s Middle-earth could become the backdrop for the next big cinematic universe. But should it? Well, that’s a tough one. Amazon seems to be putting ample time and money into its prequel, suggesting that it’s trying to maintain the quality of the original stories — but whether future endeavors will do the same remains to be seen.
And let’s be honest, there are plenty of other fantasy stories that could be adapted for the big or small screen. Not everything needs to be a major undertaking, and it’s perfectly fine to explore new worlds onscreen. (In fact, if the success of Game of Thrones and The Witcher are anything to go by, that’s exactly what fans want to see.)
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