Over 20 years ago, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring premiered in movie theaters, kicking off one of the most beloved movie trilogies in history. In just a couple weeks, Amazon will premiere its new Lord of the Rings show The Rings of Power, which is set thousands of years before the story we know. Jeff and friends are spending an insane amount of money on this show, so it looks as cinematic as any movie:
And Amazon knows it, because according to Deadline the first two episodes of the show will debut in theaters ahead of the actual premiere date. The first two episodes of the show will drop on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, September 2. But those same episodes will screen in Cinemark theaters on Wednesday, August 31.
This makes enough sense; Amazon wants to make an event out of The Rings of Power, so treating it as a TV show big enough to fill a movie theater is a good way to set it apart. This is also a nice homage to the Peter Jackson movies, which people will surely be comparing the new show to, however they watch it.
The Rings of Power vs House of the Dragon
And The Rings of Power needs to stand out, because it’s premiering in a crowded field. HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon premiered the other night, and so far the buzz has been excellent. Amazon needs to step it up. I hope they do, and that we have a fantasy TV battle royale for the ages. Everyone wins!
The Rings of Power has a large ensemble cast that includes Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Maxim Baldry, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Trystan Gravelle, Sir Lenny Henry, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, Leon Wadham, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman, and Sara Zwangobani. See it on August 31 or September 2, depending on your preference.
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