Lord of the Rings star leaves Amazon show after “difficult” experience

Amazon is readying a lavish Lord of the Rings show set during the Second Age of Middle-earth. TheOneRing.net reports that filming on the first two episodes is done, and now that the team has seen them, it’s time to take stock, reevaluate, and maybe change some things.

One of those changes is to drop actor Tom Budge, who was announced as part of the very large cast early last year. Budge detailed what happened in an Instagram post accompanied by a video of Johnny Cash singing “Ring of Fire.” (Geddit?)

"Hello loves, It is with great sadness that I am writing to tell you I have departed Amazon’s ‘Lord Of The Rings’ television series.After recently seeing the first episodes shot over the last year Amazon has decided to go in another direction with the character I was portraying…I must thank the creative team for their encouragement towards trying something that I believed was new, exciting and beautiful.And I sincerely thank the extraordinary cast and crew for their love, support and friendship over what has been a very difficult and unusual experience. Alas, some things just cannot be.Destiny my mother, I thank thee."

The Lord of the Rings show is shrouded in secrecy. We don’t know who Budge was playing or why Amazon might want to go in “another direction” with his character.

Is Tom Budge leaving Amazon’s Lord of the Rings show cause for alarm?

I am detecting some light shade in this missive, though. Budge says he “believed” the show would be “new, exciting and beautiful” but that he had “a very difficult and unusual experience.” Then again, the tone is mostly respectful, and it’s not uncommon for shows to reassess after shooting a pilot — the original Game of Thrones pilot famously underwent extensive reshoots after initial screenings failed to impress, for example. So I don’t think there’s much cause for alarm here.

Although, if you’d like to panic, the show also parted ways with J.R.R. Tolkien scholar Tom Shippey a while back. Is this turnover a sign of turbulence behind the scenes or just ordinary growing pains? The jury is out.

There’s no word on when Amazon’s Lord of the Rings show will be out. Before the pandemic, I would say to expect it this year. Now, 2022 is looking more likely, particularly if they have to do reshoots.

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h/t Slashfilm