TV series set in Middle Earth may be coming

[Otaku-sempai]

Part of the high cost is because they were required to promise five seasons of the show before the deal was signed. And at least one spin-off is in there are well.

True; but even when we break it down, that is still an enormous outlay of costs. And I would think that any potential spin off would have to be funded separately.

And for the potential of them using anything from the movies, I would bet that would be a certain female elf character. Or maybe use the movie version of book characters, like how Arwen had a more prominent role in the films than in the books.

That's possible when we consider the relative dearth of female lead characters in the books. I'm thinking, though, that the series might make use of many of the films' designs for sets and costumes. If the show is going to follow the travels of young Aragorn (not confirmed) then we know he was fostered in Rivendell and spent time in such locations as Rohan, Gondor and Lothlórien. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bree as portrayed in the films, or even the Halls of Thranduil. I would still prefer them to stick with Tolkien's timeline where Aragorn was a 10 year-old boy when a bunch of Dwarves with a Hobbit and Wizard spend a few weeks in Rivendell.

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Part of the high cost is because they were required to promise five seasons of the show before the deal was signed. And at least one spin-off is in there are well.

True; but even when we break it down, that is still an enormous outlay of costs. And I would think that any potential spin off would have to be funded separately.

And for the potential of them using anything from the movies, I would bet that would be a certain female elf character. Or maybe use the movie version of book characters, like how Arwen had a more prominent role in the films than in the books.

That's possible when we consider the relative dearth of female lead characters in the books. I'm thinking, though, that the series might make use of many of the films' designs for sets and costumes. If the show is going to follow the travels of young Aragorn (not confirmed) then we know he was fostered in Rivendell and spent time in such locations as Rohan, Gondor and Lothlórien. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bree as portrayed in the films, or even the Halls of Thranduil. I would still prefer them to stick with Tolkien's timeline where Aragorn was a 10 year-old boy when a bunch of Dwarves with a Hobbit and Wizard spend a few weeks in Rivendell.

Yep, and the movie timeline, instead of the book timeline, being used in the TV shows will just confuse us poor TOR and AiME players even more. lol

[Glorelendil]

If the show is going to follow the travels of young Aragorn (not confirmed)

I haven't been following all the news about this, so is that "not confirmed" in the sense of "the producers have mentioned this as a possibility" or in the sense of "this is wishful thinking from fans"?

[Otaku-sempai]

I haven't been following all the news about this, so is that "not confirmed" in the sense of "the producers have mentioned this as a possibility" or in the sense of "this is wishful thinking from fans"?

This is speculation that has not been confirmed to be true. What has been confirmed is that the series is supposed to cover events taking place in the years prior to the War of the Ring. However, "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen" is one of the most detailed entries in the Appendices, so it would be relatively easy to adapt the journeys and errantries of Aragorn into a series. One of the biggest problems is that it would need to follow young Aragorn for a span of 29+ years. It's a good thing that he ages slowly.

[Enevhar Aldarion]

I haven't been following all the news about this, so is that "not confirmed" in the sense of "the producers have mentioned this as a possibility" or in the sense of "this is wishful thinking from fans"?

This is speculation that has not been confirmed to be true. What has been confirmed is that the series is supposed to cover events taking place in the years prior to the War of the Ring. However, "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen" is one of the most detailed entries in the Appendices, so it would be relatively easy to adapt the journeys and errantries of Aragorn into a series. One of the biggest problems is that it would need to follow young Aragorn for a span of 29+ years. It's a good thing that he ages slowly.

Yep, still nothing other than "prequel to LOTR" has ever been put in print about this series. And of course, many of us here already speculated earlier in this very thread about what we think would work for the series. That is where the whole "Young Aragorn" plotline thoughts came from.

[Glorelendil]

Ah, ok, got it. Thanks.

Bummer...I was hoping "not confirmed" meant there was evidence this was something other than pure conjecture. It would be a great plotline to explore.

[Otaku-sempai]

Bummer...I was hoping "not confirmed" meant there was evidence this was something other than pure conjecture. It would be a great plotline to explore.

Over at the TORN forums, I did speculate on how an Aragorn-focused five-season show might be broken down, using TOR's "Errantries of the King" as a template. This is slightly modified from that original post:

Season 1 (2951-2956): We start with young 'Estel' on his twentieth birthday as he learns his true name and heritage. Aragorn first meets and falls in love with Arwen, the daughter of Lord Elrond. He departs Rivendell and has adventures in Eriador and Wilderland, at some point entering the Woodland Realm and encountering Thranduil and court. Aragorn's time in Wilderland culminates with becoming friends with Gandalf the Grey. Gandalf will accompany Aragorn on many adventures in the coming years.

Season 2 (2957-2965): Young Aragorn travels to Rohan where, under the the name 'Eärn' (the Eagle) he pledges his service to King Thengel. Eärn rides with the Mark, getting to know the Rohirrim and their concerns while defending Rohan against Dunlendings, raiding Orcs, and incursions from Easterlings. He learns of the Horse-lords' practice of hunting the Wild Men of the Druadan Forest and discovers for himself that the Woses are a folk to be respected. In the year 2965 Eärn leaves the service of Thengel and turns his feet to Gondor.

Season 3 (2965-2980): Aragorn arrives in Minas Tirith and, as 'Thorongil' (the Eagle of the Star) enters the service of Ecthelion II, the Ruling Steward. Thorongil proves himself defending Gondor from Haradrim plots, Corsair pirates and other threats, eventually becoming a trusted friend and advisor to Ecthelion. The Steward's son Denethor becomes jealous of Thorongil and suspicious of his friendship with the wizard Mithrandir (Gandalf). Denethor begins to guess at Thorongil's true identity and suspects a plot to overturn the rule of the stewards. Early in the year 2980 Thorongil leads a successful raid against the Corsair Fleet at Umbar. In victory, he leaves Gondor and is last seen heading toward the Mountains of Shadow.

Season 4 (2980-c. 2990): After scouting the Mountains of Shadow, searching for plots and movements of the Enemy, Aragorn decides to return to Rivendell for a time. On the way, he reaches Lothlórien and is allowed to enter. Here Aragorn is reunited with Arwen and they are together for a season before plighting their troth on Midsummer's Day. Aragorn returns to Rivendell and informs Elrond of his daughter's choice. Elrond charges him with the task of reuniting the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor as King before he can win the hand of Arwen. Aragorn takes his leave to journey "alone far into the East...exploring the hearts of Men, both evil and good, and uncovering the plots and devices of the servants of Sauron."

Season 5 (c. 2990-3007): Aragorn continues his travels to far lands, this time deep into the South "where the stars are strange." After adventures featuring Corsairs, Haradrim and other Southrons, Aragorn returns in the year 3001 to the North where Gandalf enlists him in the search for Gollum. In 3006 Aragorn visits his mother Gilraen for the final time; she dies before the next spring.

At some point Aragorn (seemingly alone) enters Moria, though we don't know when this would have taken place. It might have been connected to his search for Gollum or it might have been for a very different purpose. My own feeling is that it would have been before 2980, and so unconnected to the Hunt for Gollum.

[Falenthal]

It would be a series I'd surely watch.

I think you managed to make every season an interesting one, both changing the regions, and adding new types of plots... and all that without breaking the canon. Great ideas, Otaku, how I wish you are right.

[Otaku-sempai]

It would be a series I'd surely watch.

I think you managed to make every season an interesting one, both changing the regions, and adding new types of plots... and all that without breaking the canon. Great ideas, Otaku, how I wish you are right.

Thanx! I think the year-by-year approach that many viewers might expect would be too slow or would require a ridiculous number of adventures too close together. Breaking the series down into longer periods provides better opportunities without breaking canon, aided by Aragorn's slow rate of aging. Even so, in the later seasons we might end up with an Aragorn who looks too young. One change that might make sense would be to end the show at an earlier point in time, no later than T.A. 3001 and maybe even earlier. Stopping the show at 2980 would leave out a good chunk of Aragorn's travels or require them to take place much earlier.

Luckily, Tolkien never revealed exactly when Aragorn first journeyed to Rohan; it might have been a few years later than supposed in TOR (and it probably was, as Aragorn and Gandalf were said to have shared a number of adventures in the years after their friendship began). Just the same, Appendix A informs us that some of Aragorn's greatest journeys took place after his victorious mission to Umbar. I would prefer to leave that intact.

The shame is, this whole discussion could all be moot if Amazon goes in a different direction--unless Aragorn: The Legendary Journeys becomes the spin off!

[Brooding Paladin]

Now they're saying it could be north of $1 billion...
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/400 ... qfrA.email