The Lord of the Rings is a monumental literary work by author J.R.R. Tolkien, representing a significant milestone in the fantasy genre and a cornerstone of Western culture. Its success was bolstered by the three acclaimed films directed by Peter Jackson in the early 2000s, which helped elevate the stature of this epic tale to unprecedented heights.
To this day, The Lord of the Rings remains an endless source of inspiration for creators across various fields, including film, animation, literature, and even video games. Amazon Studios is no exception, as it recently launched the first season of the series Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in September, with an estimated production cost nearing $500 million.
However, while the three films of The Lord of the Rings previously enchanted audiences and continuously garnered critical acclaim, Amazon’s new series finds itself facing significant backlash. Not only fans of Middle-earth but even actors from the original trilogy of Peter Jackson have expressed their dissatisfaction with the new adaptation.
Recently, Bernard Hill, who portrayed King Théoden of Rohan over two decades ago, did not hold back in his remarks about Amazon’s Rings of Power, noting that he feels quite disappointed and somewhat critical. The actor stated, “It’s merely a project driven by money, and I have no interest in watching or participating in their work. I wish them good luck, but their project does not resemble ‘the real deal’.”
The “real deal” Hill refers to is the original work of Tolkien, implying that Amazon’s series has undergone too many changes and diverged too far from the essence of Middle-earth that the British author created. This serves as one of the primary reasons many fans of The Lord of the Rings are merely criticizing and even boycotting Rings of Power.
The reasoning behind this discontent stems from Amazon’s acquisition of the rights to adapt The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. They are restricted from incorporating any elements outside these two books to avoid potential copyright issues in the future. Therefore, the production team had to “add extra flavors” to introduce various distinct elements compared to the historical context of Middle-earth. Additionally, the casting choices have sparked considerable debate as they do not align with the character descriptions in the original texts.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Rings of Power has received a “rotten” score of 85% from critics, yet its audience rating is significantly lower, standing at just 38%. In contrast, House of the Dragon, another fantasy series that premiered around the same time, was met with considerably more favorable reviews, boasting a 93% rating from critics and 82% from viewers. This disparity further exacerbates the disappointment surrounding Amazon Studios’ project.
Nevertheless, Rings of Power remains one of the most successful series on the Amazon Prime Video platform, amassing over 100 million views during its first season. It is no surprise that the studio has quickly greenlit a second season, with production expected to start in October, though a specific release date has yet to be announced.
Source: GameRant
