Three key figures from The Lord of the Rings will be part of Amazon’s prequel series. Get caught up with these immortals before the show debuts!
In news that probably won’t be surprising to many Lord of the Rings aficionados, word is spreading that Amazon’s new show, which is set during the Second Age of Middle-earth, will include some familiar characters, namely the elves Galadriel and Elrond, and the big bad himself: Sauron, forger of the One Ring, the Dark Lord of Mordor, and all-around pain in the ass of peace-lovings peoples everywhere.
This news comes from reliable Lord of the Rings source TheOneRing.net, which is a little bemused people are just now waking up and smelling the coffee, or the pipe-weed or whatever:
Yes yes we’ve been reporting this on @theoneringnet for several weeks.
— Clifford Broadway (@Quickbeam2000) July 31, 2020
Elrond (before Rivendell)
Galadriel (before the 3 Rings)
Sauron (able to take fair form)#Gilgalad still speculative
*Should be no wizards / hobbits (they’re 3rd Age only).... #FidelitytoTolkien PARAMOUNT! pic.twitter.com/ykx5mdmGie
A primer for the uninitiated: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings takes place near the end of the Third Age of Middle-earth. That’s when Frodo, Sam and the rest all go on their journey to get rid of that pesky Ring and end Sauron’s reign of terror once and for all. Along the way, they meet Elrond and Galadriel, elves who have been living in Middle-earth for millennia, played in the Peter Jackson movies by Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett respectively.
The Second Age spans a long period and kicks off thousands of years before Frodo is born. But Sauron, Elrond and Galadriel are all still around, so it’s no surprise to hear they’ll be in the show.
Galadriel spent the Second Age ruling over various fiefdoms of Elves before settling in Lothlórien, which is where Frodo and company find her in The Fellowship of the Ring. She, like other powerful elves of the time, was approached by a seemingly benevolent entity named Annatar, who helped them create the Rings of Power. Galadriel mistrusted Annatar immediately, which was smart, because Annatar was actually Sauron in disguise, assuming a “fair form” to trick people into believing he was being helpful.
She sees you, Sauron. You’re embarrassing yourself, get your life together.
By the way, we already know that Galadriel will be played in the Amazon show by Morfydd Clark:
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Morfydd Clark attends the “Saint Maud” European Premiere during the 63rd BFI London Film Festival at Vue West End on October 05, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for BFI)
Elrond, meanwhile, spent pretty much the entire Second Age fighting against Sauron’s forces, working under Gil-Galad, the High King of the Ñoldor in Middle-earth. Gil-Galad helped put together the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, which stood against Sauron at the end of the Second Age. In the tweet above, Clifford Scott Broadway says they’re not yet sure if Gil-Galad will be a part of the new show, but considering how important he is to the story of the Second Age, you figure he pretty much has to be.
Other important events in the Second Age include the rise and fall of Númenor, an island kingdom of long-lived men sunk by the hubris of its ruling class, with Sauron helping things along.
Amazon is now back to work on the series after taking a break thanks to the coronavirus, so hopefully we’ll hear yet more details soon.
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.
Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels