The company already has six live-action films under its belt Lord of the Rings Franchising is heading in a new direction ring of power. The series is a prequel to JRR Tolkien’s novels and explores the Second Age of Middle-earth and its major events, including the forging of the iconic Ring of Power.
The Lord of the Rings: The Ring of Power The cast includes Robert Aramayo as Elrond, Morfydd Clark as Galadriel, Benjamin Walker as Gil-galad, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Owen Ya Ser and Maxime Baudry as Isildur.
Long before the show premiered, screen roar Exclusive chat with star Benjamin Walker The Lord of the Rings: The Ring of Powerhis personal history with Tolkien’s work, the pressures of adapting the novel, and more.
Screen Rant: Were you a fan of Tolkien’s work before joining the series?
Benjamin Walker: Yeah, my brother was older than me and much smarter, and the first book he gave me was The Hobbit, which was my first big boy book. We’ve had this family-like experience with Tolkien’s writing ever since. I mean, I love Cry Loud cartoons, I love Peter Jackson movies, anything about it, I can get my hands on and I want to learn and immerse myself in it. It’s really nice to have a job where they pay me to read Tolkien. [Laughs]
Even though you’re a big fan, do you notice any hesitation or concern about getting the right material?
Benjamin Walker: Well, of course, and rightfully so, I worry about that random actor who walks onto the set. I don’t mind the pressure, I think it’s the respect and awe that is deserved. I want to be nervous because I want to get things done and I want to make sure I’m working as hard as I can and we’re getting the best out of everyone who is united in pursuit of a single vision and that’s part of the fun. If it doesn’t count, don’t play the game! I love it, it should matter, and it does.
What’s interesting about the character of Gil-galad is that, as far as the audience is concerned, they haven’t really seen much of him except for one brief scene in the movie. Fellowship of the Ring. For those who haven’t read the book, what was it like for you to expand on this character further?
Benjamin Walker: It’s an honor. Fortunately, there’s enough original material to get you started, and enough material to provide context for his tenure as well as his legacy. Whenever I don’t know what to do, I go back to the book, to the text. Tolkien created these narratives to take on a life of their own, and it’s our job to do the research, prepare, buckle up, and go.
What can we expect from Gil-galad Season 1?
Benjamin Walker: Well, we can expect some things that we know. For example, he is by far one of the most prescient elves, able to foresee the coming rise of evil before anyone else. So when we find him at the beginning of the series in a period of relative peace, we know it’s deeply disturbing, and he’s contemplating the long chess game of how to protect Middle-earth from evil. It’s easy to underestimate the calmness of an elf, but Gil-galad, he just vibrates on another level. He harnessed the health and well-being of Middle-earth in a way that no other elf did.
Excellent. I’m looking forward to seeing the results. Can we also expect the relationship between him and Elrond to be expanded on in the show?
Benjamin Walker: Oh, very much so. They have a mentor-mentee relationship, Gil-galad is the kind of leader we wish we had, someone who brings out the best in us and encourages us to take the first steps on our destinyful journey, and he did that for Elrond Morally, like a loving parent who encourages you to be a better version of yourself and act like you think it’s your idea. Parents show their love by guiding you in the right direction while also giving you the strength and will to take charge of the journey.
What was it like building a rapport with Robert Aramayo off-camera before bringing him into your scenes?
Benjamin Walker: Effortlessly. I mean, he’s a charismatic guy, a very talented actor. He was a Tolkien scholar and we really clicked. We also went to the same college, so we had a kind of performance vocabulary shorthand, which was really helpful because I do think Gil-galad and Elrond did have a wordless communication. Gil-galad recognized that the half-elf needed to prove himself, and Gil-galad also recognized that he had unlimited potential, he just needed a little guidance.
The Lord of the Rings: The Ring of Power summary
Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Ring of Power brings the heroic saga of the Second Age of Middle-earth history to the screen for the first time. Set thousands of years before the events of Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” this epic drama will take viewers back to a time of great power and unlikely kingdoms. The age of heroes. With hope hanging on the thinnest thread, Tolkien’s greatest villain threatens to plunge the entire world into darkness.
The series begins in a period of relative peace and follows a cast of familiar and new characters as they face the re-emergence of a long-feared evil in Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the Elven capital of Lindon, to the stunning island kingdom of Númenor, and to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will create lasting legacies. They’re gone.
look at what we have The Lord of the Rings: The Ring of Power The SDCC 2022 cast includes Markella Kavenagh and Megan Richards, Cynthia Addai-Robinson and Trystan Gavelle, Owain Arthur and Sophia Nomvete, Maxim Baldry and Lloyd Owen, Ismael Cruz Córdova and Nazanin Boniadi.
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More: ‘Lord of the Rings’: What to expect from ‘Lord of the Rings’ show
The Lord of the Rings: The Ring of Power Premieres on Prime Video on September 2.