The newly released teaser trailer for Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power dropped on July 14 and sent ripples of excitement throughout Tolkien fandom, including through the ranks of TORn staff. Here below is a presentation of spur of the moment reactions; there will be another post soon that delves deep into some of the lore being presented in this teaser trailer.
But first, if this two and a half minutes is a ‘Teaser Trailer’ in Amazon’s estimation, we can’t wait to see what they consider a full Trailer! Check out our post from Thursday morning about the teaser trailer; and not to be lost in all the flash and bang from the teaser trailer, take a moment to read the official Amazon Press Release at the bottom of the post, and note that when the show debuts on September 2, it will be an 8-part series. It’s still not clear if the episodes will drop all at once or one episode a week. Hopefully we’ll find out that answer during Amazon’s panel at San Diego Comic-con next week, so keep an eye out for our reports from the panel and exhibit hall floor throughout the week.
Since ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ area opened at Universal Studios Florida 12 years ago, rumors of a ‘Lord of the Rings’ themed land at either Universal or Walt Disney World have swirled around the internet. In 2010, shortly after the opening of ‘Wizarding World’, a guest survey was apparently sent out by Universal to gauge public interest in other themed lands. The survey went on to inquire about a potential Lord of the Rings themed ride or area:
“Imagine if you will a world unlike any you’ve ever visited before: it’s Middle Earth, the ancient and beautiful land forged by J.R.R. Tolkien as the backdrop for his two most well known creations, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Walk as a human among dwarves, elves, orcs and hobbits — all faithfully recreated and portrayed in the spirit of the original characters as they appeared in both the books and the movies. In this land you’ll experience one-of-a-kind rides and attractions that bring to life some of the most memorable experiences of Tolkien’s world including Bilbo’s hobbit hole, the fortress at Isengard (before it was destroyed) and even the dark world of Mordor — including the terrifying volcanic Mount Doom.”
Many websites (including, of course, TOR.n!) reported on these rumors, but there has been nothing to substantiate them. Some rumored concepts that have been floating around for the past few years included areas themed around Hobbiton and Rivendell, Middle-earth shops and dining, a boat ride, a ‘Fall of Gandalf’ flying ride (similar to the ‘Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey’ ride at Universal Studios), ‘Escape from Moria’, and a Mordor/Eye of Sauron dark ride.
Cut to 2019: Universal Studios Florida announces that they are creating a 4th theme park (along with Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay) called Epic Universe. Universal has not officially confirmed the new themed areas of this park yet, but the first phase opening (sometime in 2025) is heavily rumored to include areas tied to Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon, Universal Monsters, and another Wizarding World area (possibly a Ministry of Magic dark ride).
Along with these potential areas, as well as a hotel, shopping and dining areas, are 2 large plots of land set aside for expansion of the park. One area, which is over 20 acres, is next to the proposed Wizarding World land, and it is thought that Universal is holding onto this area should they acquire another large IP (Intellectual Property), which The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit most definitely are!
The theme park fansite ScreamScape recently reported that their sources indicated the first planned expansion for Epic Universe will be to bring the world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth to the park. Whether that would include The Hobbit and the upcoming Amazon tv show is not known. Since the park isn’t scheduled to open for another 3 years, an expansion is most likely 5-10 years away (at least).
At this time, Universal Studios does not have the rights to any Tolkien property. It is worth noting, however, that although the Tolkien Estate holds the rights to Professor Tolkien’s literary works, the movie, merchandise, and theme park rights belong to Middle-earth Enterprises. So it’s not impossible that Universal could buy the rights to design a land, as they did for the Harry Potter franchise. Again, we want to stress that this is all speculation and rumor – as of this writing there are no official plans for The Wizarding World of Middle-earth!
What do you think about a Middle-earth theme park area: “Yay!” or “No Way!”
The mighty marketing power of Amazon begins to reveal itself in DTSD’s Gaslamp District. I can’t wait to see those shuttles! Keep your eyes on TORn for daily reports from this field-of-fandom extravaganza. Panels, parties, and our first booth in a decade – OH MY!!
Courtesy of LadyNico and the UK SDCC Attendees group
At last, we have a full length trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Though Prime Video are still referring to this as a ‘teaser trailer’, the new footage runs 2 minutes 30 seconds long. And it is packed with good stuff, to pore over and to wonder about. Take a look:
So what do we see?
The trailer opens panning over stone profile, carved in rock. (This is a very strange profile, with a big nose and a bulky eyebrow – who is this supposed to be?) As we sweep over the carving, we see beyond a ship sailing between the cliffs, heading towards as city. This is presumably the Numenorean city with have seen before – perhaps Andúnië, as it’s a port and the home of Elendil. (See the EW article which came out yesterday, which sheds a LOT of light on all the glimpses of Numenor we see in this trailer.)
VO (Galadriel) ‘There was a time when the world was so young…’
A shot of Galadriel raising her eyes – it’s Morfydd Clark, of course, but this is a VERY Cate Blanchett moment. And as we see this, we hear a rising musical phrase which is definitely from Howard Shore (Rivendell theme).
VO (cont) ‘…there had not yet been a sunrise…’
Here’s the first teaser image we saw, with our short haired elf (Finrod?) walking up the hill – beyond we see a city (Tirion?) and in the distance, the two trees Laurelin and Telperion.
VO (cont) ‘But even then, there was light.’
Prime Video logo on black screen
Some beings – elves, possibly? they seem to be cloaked – seen from above, running across a landscape. (Looks like they are crossing one of New Zealand’s many braided rivers.)
SINGER ‘Come to me come to me…’
Elves in silver cloaks (the same from previous shot, maybe, now on a different part of their journey?) are seen crossing a snowy mountain top. As the camera sweeps beyond them, to the sky beyond, we see a bird flying. Looks BIG – eagle sized – but looks like a seagull. (But maybe that’s just me seeing things…)
SINGER ‘…land far away…’
The camera pans over and around our golden elvish realm – presumably Lindon?
VO from a Harfoot (‘country’ accent) ‘Elves have forests to protect…’
We are treated to an incredible shot inside Moria; what a stunning citadel!
VO (cont) ‘…dwarves their mines…’
Pan over men harvesting with scythes – looks like the south country we have seen before, where the healer Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) dwells.
VO (cont) ‘…men their fields of grain…’
Pan over what appears to be stalks of corn in a field; but it turns out to be headdresses worn by Harfoots. One turns in profile and puts a small musical pipe to her (his?) lips.
VO (cont) ‘But we Harfoots have each other…’
We see Harfoots amongst trees, dancing – some kind of ancient ritual. These are clearly nomadic, ancient ancestors of Hobbits, reflecting past pagan customs of Britain.
SINGER: ‘For I must now wander, this wandering day…’
Now we see the speaker of the VO – it appears to be Marigold Brandyfoot (Sara Zwangobani), who says, with a shrug, ‘We’re safe.’ [DRAMATIC IRONY!!]
Harfoot Nori watches meteor streak overhead and crash beyond the trees. Music becomes more urgent.
Text on screen: ‘Based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien’
Sweeping shot round waterfall on ice cliff – we’ve seen this ice cliff being scaled by Galadriel in previous teaser.
VO (Elrond): ‘You have fought long enough Galadriel…’
Galadriel is seen looking at another male elf, on the snowy mountain top. She does not look impressed; she slams her sword into the ice.
VO (cont): ‘Put up your sword…’
We see Elrond speaking urgently to Galadriel. Again, she doesn’t look impressed. Cut to elves fighting through the snow storm, bearing torches.
VO (Galadriel): ‘The Enemy is still out there…’
We see Galadriel talking to Elrond – ‘…the question now is where?’
Elves in an ice cave – in the foreground we see a hand on the rock of something watching them. Is this John Howe’s snow troll?
Camera pans over a city far below. Is this another settlement of Numenor? I’m not sure we’ve seen this place before… Possibly Romenna?
Elrond and Galadriel’s conversation goes on – E: ‘It is over.’ G:‘You have not seen what I have seen.’ E: ‘I have seen my share.’
Galadriel’s words become VO: ‘You have not seen…’
We see Galadriel in some fiery place – with bodies seemingly floating in fiery air (or are they under water?). It looks like some kind of purgatory. She looks seriously beaten up, and covered in ash. Is there a fiery body in the middle? Could this be Morgoth? Are we seeing the ‘tempest of fire’ at the end of War of Wrath?
VO (cont).‘…what I have seen’ – cut to Galadriel looking urgently at Elrond.
Text on screen: THIS SEPTEMBER (Music becomes more urgent again.)
Sweeping shots of our ship from the opening of this teaser, sailing into Numenor (poss Andúnië). (Maybe all these Numenorean city views are just the same city from different viewpoints…?)
Text on screen: THE LEGEND BEGINS
Lindon, with Gil-Galad and Elrond. Gil-galad says, ‘Darkness will march over the face of the earth…’
Overhead shot of orcs with flaming torches, marching along a bridge (looks like the march out of Minas Morgul in RotK).
VO (Gil-galad): ‘It will be the end not just of our people…’
Sweeping shot of seabirds circling over a ship.
Galadril in profile, in a pale shift dress, golden light – she looks up to her left. She appears to be on the ship, looking up at the birds, maybe?
Miriel of Numenor is seen walking through the city, and also looking up; something (ash?) seems to be falling on the city. Behind her, we see a solider with the golden sun which seems to be the emblem of Numenor – again, see the EW article. (Is this to indicate the descent of Numenor’s Kings from Finwe or Fingolfin? Amongst the heraldic devices Tolkien sketched, theirs are the closest to this sun image.)
VO (cont) ‘…but all peoples.’
Harfoots are seen, also staring up. This is the arrival of The Stranger (aka Meteor Man) – it clearly is not meant to be a good thing. Nori and her friend Poppy gape open-mouthed – fire sparks dance around them. We see a hazy Stranger – he appears to be controlling or manipulating the fire.
Elrond is seen being lead into Khazad-dum by dwarf guards. He stares around him at this incredible metropolis.
King Durin [first glimpse of him] is seen, saying, ‘I am sorry, but their time has come.’
We see Prince Durin cracking the stone – this is footage we have seen in the previous teaser.
Ice falling from that wall of ice the male elf is climbing.
Halbrand appears to be in some kind of throne room.
VO – leading to a shot where we see it is Arondir speaking: ‘The past is with us all.’
Arondir seems to be in an inn or something? (There is maybe a slaughtered pig hanging behind him?) He is looking quizzically at someone.
Charging horsemen – from Numenor.
VO (new voice): ‘The past is dead.’
Harfoots Nori and Poppy hugging.
Galadriel on raft in stormy ocean. She appears to be swept overboard.
Isildur on board ship.
VO (cont): ‘We either move forward…’
Two horses with riders – EW’s article reveals this is Galadriel and Elendil on Numenor’s coastline. They are racing over a beach towards a city (which looks like Mont St Michel in France – a Minas Tirith ancestor?). Close up on blue swirling robes of Galadriel.
VO (cont): ‘…or we die with it.’
Now we see the speaker – it is Elendil (Lloyd Owen). If he is in the same shot as where we saw Arondir earlier, there appears to be a third, seated, person to his right.
Crowd of Numenoreans are seen cheering someone who has raised arms. Switch POV – we see a bearded man in front of great doors to some kind of citadel, being acclaimed by the crowd. This is Pharazon (Trystan Gravelle).
Horseman with spear, galloping – he looks rustic and like a ranger compared with the men we just saw. (Is this Halbrand again?)
Prince Durin offering a gem to someone; he says, ‘This could be the beginning of a new era.’
Elves in armour drawing swords in Lindon.
Arondir is in some kind of pit, chained by the ankle. He leaps and spins – it’s a Legolas type stunt – and appears to be battling some kind of warg. Looks like a dead body (or at least someone unconcious) in the pit with him.
Snow troll attacking Galadriel and her crew in the ice cave.
Hand of The Stranger on rocks around him. Rocks and fire swirl in towards him – and for a fraction of a moment appear to make the shape of the Lidless Eye, before they disappear. Big clue as to who The Stranger might be…?
Feet of a Harfoot walk into shot on grass – this is Sadoc Burrows (Sir Lenny Henry). He carries a walking staff. Followed by Nori, Poppy, and other rustic Harfoots.
SINGER: ‘Away I must wander this wandering day…’
Text on Screen: THE LORD OF THE RINGS THE RINGS OF POWER [as logo]; New series Sept 2
Prime Video logo appears on blue background as music sweeps to a very drum-filled, Game of Thrones reminiscent crescendo and finale. END.
You can expect more discussion and speculation on this trailer soon, from TORn staff. Meanwhile, here’s what Prime Video say, in their official press release:
“THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER
NEW TEASER TRAILER RELEASED
THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED EIGHT-PART SERIES WILL PREMIERE ON PRIME VIDEO ON 2 SEPTEMBER 2022
CULVER CITY, California—July 14, 2022—A second teaser trailer for the highly anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power television series from Amazon Studios was released today. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an epic and ambitious telling of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fabled Second Age of Middle-earth and launches globally on Prime Video on September 2, 2022.
The new two-minute, 30-second teaser trailer delves even deeper into this series adaptation, giving fans the first ever look at some of Tolkien’s legendary characters from the island kingdom of Númenor, that until this new series have never been seen on screen. The characters are Isildur (Maxim Baldry), Elendil (Lloyd Owen), Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle), and Queen Regent Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson). Additional Númenóreans also recently announced are Kemen (Leon Wadham) and Eärien (Ema Horvath).
The teaser trailer also highlights some of the realms viewers will visit over the course of the eight-part series, including the Elven realms of Lindon and Eregion, the Dwarven realm Khazad-dûm, the Southlands, the Northernmost Wastes, the Sundering Seas, and the island kingdom of Númenór.
Also featured are key cast members Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), Elrond (Robert Aramayo), High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker), the Harfoots Marigold Brandyfoot (Sara Zwangobani), Elanor ‘Nori’Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards) and Sadoc Burrows (Sir Lenny Henry), The Stranger (Daniel Weyman), the Dwarves King Durin III (Peter Mullan) and Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur), Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), and Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova).
The multi-season drama will launch on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on Friday, September 2, with new episodes available weekly.
About The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and one of the greatest villains that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.
The seriesis led by showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne & Patrick McKay and stars a celebrated cast led by 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, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, Leon Wadham, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman, and Sara Zwangobani.
Joining Payne & McKay are executive producers Lindsey Weber, Callum Greene, J.A. Bayona, Belén Atienza, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Bruce Richmond, and Sharon Tal Yguado, as well as producers Ron Ames and Christopher Newman. Wayne Che Yip is co-executive producer and directs, along with J.A. Bayona and Charlotte Brändström.
Don’t forget, you can join the TORn Discord — and our ongoing discussions — here. There’s also a lively forum for Rings of Power analysis on our messageboards.
EW has shared an exclusive look at The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, featuring the characters Kemen, Miriel, Pharazon, Elendil, Eärien and Isildur.
These six characters were all featured in the posters of hands that were released a few weeks ago.
ElendilPharazonEarienMirielIsildurKemen
The EW article discusses the upcoming series with show runners, J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay and what was involved with bringing Númenor to life and how they hope to please the legion of Tolkien fans.
That devoted fandom is why Payne and McKay pondered every tiny detail on The Rings of Power — right down to each stone in Númenor. “It was one place that we were just laser-focused on saying, ‘We need to get this right,'” Payne explains. “It’s never been seen before. People have some ideas of what elves look like or what dwarves look like and what those kingdoms might look like. But Númenor was, in some ways, a blank canvas.”
(Coggan, 2022)
EW image of Ema Horvath as Earien
Director, Wayne Che Yip, describes walking onto the set of Númenor, stating that it was “just breathtaking”. How every week they were filming on this set he would discover something new, some detail he hadn’t seen before.
We are introduced to Elendil’s daughter, Eärien, who is played by Ema Horvath and Pharazon’s son, Kemen, played by Leon Wadham. Both are new characters, so it will be interesting to see how their stories unfold.
Further in the EW article Payne shares some personal insights into his own reactions to their portrayal of Middle-earth and how the reaction of some of the fans at a recent viewing affected him.
“If people come out of this feeling like they’ve gone to Middle-earth, that’s such a special thing,” Payne adds. “Middle-earth fills us with hope, and it inspires us. There’s a reason why people reach to Middle-earth when they’re going through hard times.”
(Coggan, 2022)
Amazon recently screened about 20 minutes of the show for a group of Tolkien superfans. As Payne and McKay hid in the back, they overheard one audience member say that the show “felt like Middle-earth.” “As he said that, I was surprised by my own reaction,” Payne says, laughing. “I spontaneously burst into tears. I was like, ‘That’s all I wanted to have happen!'”
SDCC is back! TheOneRing.net celebrates the past, present & future of LOTR with a look back at the Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and a look forward to the upcoming The Rings of Power from Prime Video. Here are all the panels, booths and events for Middle-earth fans going to SDCC 2022:
TheOneRing.net official Booth #1220
Panel 1 – TORn Updates on everything LOTR, Thursday 10:30am Room 6BCF
Hall H The Rings of Power, Friday 10:30am
TORn and Prime Video’s Middle-earth Moot, Friday 5pm
Panel 2 – Second Age Lore, Sunday 1:30pm Room 6A
Exclusive LOTR merch all weekend
All SDCC badges are branded RINGS OF POWER. pic from SDCCblog.com
The Rings of Power off-site experience? – no confirmation of a LOTR experience, but there are persistent rumors. Be on the lookout for more news!
Meet Jed Brophy all weekend at TheOneRing.net booth 1220!
Excited to have the multi-talented actor in LOTR & Hobbit, direct from New Zealand for signings and greetings.
Thursday
10:30am, Room 6BCF – Huge all-encompassing LORD OF THE RINGS panel will cover the 20th Anniversary Celebrations of the New Line films, their upcoming “The War of the Rohirrim,” Amazon Prime’s “The Rings of Power” TV show, new video games focused on Gollum & Dwarves, and new books from the Tolkien Estate. There are some very special exclusive things in store that attendees will not want to miss. Add this panel to your SDCC Official App schedule here.
That Same Afternoon – You’ll want to queue up for Hall H wristbands on Thursday to ensure entry to the next morning’s THE RINGS OF POWER panel. Here’s a good post at SDCC Blog on how Hall H wristbands work.
Friday
10:30am – 12noon, room Hall H – Prime Video presents THE RINGS OF POWER and the very first look at the billion-dollar TV series. Nearly 20 people are confirmed for the panel, including the secretive show runners, J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. A new exclusive trailer is nearly guaranteed, but would they dare show the FIRST full episode to fans, as The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance did a few years ago?
5pm – 8:30pm – Party Time! TheOneRing.net and Prime Video invite you to our Middle-earth Moot! This extraordinary party includes Cosplay contest with exclusive giveaways, themed decorations from The Rings of Power, with drinks and food provided. Exclusive TROP swag and other surprises are in store. Open to the public, no SDCC badge required, all ages, Cosplay encouraged (get creative!), space strictly limited! Details & sign up for your free ticket SOON.
Saturday
TheOneRing.net official Booth #1220 – Trivia time EVERY HOUR! Courtesy of Warner Home Video, we have copies to give away of the epic 31-disc 4K box set Middle-earth Ultimate Edition, as well as amazing LOTR fabrics from OSCHA. Pick up a Con-exclusive shirt or just come and chat about what we all saw in Hall H.
Sunday
1:30pm, room 6A – Join an all-star panel of Tolkien scholars and experts for a deep dive into the lore of LOTR and the Second Age. What did Tolkien actually write? What are the threads that Amazon can pull on? Learn the true intent of Tolkien’s lore expansion, and be informed enough to win all the internet debates coming soon. Be sure to add this panel to your SDCC Official App schedule here.
SDCC Exclusive Merch
We are excited to have incredible new T-shirts and pins available only at TheOneRing.net Booth #1220, not online, from some of our favorite artists!
Peabody Award-winning artist, author and director Molly Ostertag (@HobbitGay) designed BAG END SOCIAL CLUB which incorporates a direct quotation from Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring.
We also have more fun items including books from “Middle-earth: Script to Screen” co-author Kellie Rice, art from Eisner-nominated (2022) comic artist team Kempo Cornelius & Chris Northrop, and items from The Nerd of the Rings and Discord. Come by the booth #1220 to discover it all!
Get all your officially-licensed LOTR merch at Booth #1220 including Shire Post coins & wax seals & more!
Remember, TORN is not-for-profit and we are just trying to pay off the very expensive booth!
Other panels of interest to LOTR fans
Andy Serkis new comic panel, Thursday 5pm Room 32AB (he might be zooming in)
Billy & Dom’s Moriarty podcast panel, Thursday 12:15pm Room Indigo (in person, covid allowing)
Prime Video offsite – across the rail tracks from Hall A, Prime Video usually has a big free outdoor event space.
Dungeons & Dragons Tavern – corner of Sixth Avenue and Island Avenue
The Rings of Power press events – for those fans covering SDCC as Press, Prime Video is running a tight ship and things are invite-only for their press days. TheOneRing.net Middle-earth Moot party on Friday is a private fan event: there shall be no Press access or video cameras allowed! You shall not pass!
Win the Ultimate Collection at TheOneRing.net booth 1202
Our pals at WBHE are hooking you up with the ultimate 4K Boxed set of the COMPLETE Peter Jackson Middle-earth films: both LOTR and The Hobbit (technically two trilogies so does that make this a Hexology?!) There are multiple opportunities to win one through our trivia challenges all weekend long at Booth #1220.
Follow TheOneRing.net on our official Twitter & Instagram to keep up with all the Comic-Con excitement, and join our official partnered Discord to catch ALL the things as they break.
