J.R.R. Tolkien’s great-grandson Royd Tolkien has developed a long-standing relationship with the team behind Middle Earth’s big-screen adaptations, and even appeared as a Gondorian ranger in the third film The Return of the King.
Digital Spy sat down with Royd to get the Tolkien family perspective on Jackson’s adaptations, and discuss the time he spent in New Zealand bonding with the Lord of the Rings cast and crew.
When did you first get wind of Lord of the Rings being adapted as a live-action film? It was a very long development process…
“It was years before they filmed. I’d known Peter Jackson because I’d been a fan of his from Bad Taste and Braindead, from when I was younger. But I really had no involvement in the films at that stage – my first connection with them was at the first premiere in London, for The Fellowship [of the Ring]. That’s where I met Peter and other people from New Line.”