As a lifelong fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension as we delve into this new era of adaptations and expansions. For me, Middle-earth isn’t just a world on the shelf; it’s a place that has shaped my imagination and fueled countless hours of escapism since I first read The Hobbit in my childhood.
Without a doubt, the epic tale known as “Lord of the Rings” and its associated lore stand as the most influential fantasy narrative ever created by mankind. Period. I’m convinced that you, dear reader, would concur with me on this point. As time passes, Middle-earth becomes one of the older stories in existence. Admittedly, there are older tales to be found, but a century is an impressive lifespan for a story to not just persist but continue to captivate new generations. “The Hobbit” was initially published in 1937, and J.R.R. Tolkien penned parts of “The Silmarillion,” specifically “The Fall of Gondolin,” two decades prior. This intellectual property has roots that are now over a century old, and Middle-earth has never been more relevant than it is today.
Prominent highlights include the release of Season 2 for Amazon Studios’ “The Rings of Power” series, as well as Warner Bros.’ upcoming anime film “The War of the Rohirrim.” The studio also has plans for a Gollum movie in 2026, along with several other films yet to be announced. Last year, Magic the Gathering introduced Lord of the Rings characters into their game, and a Tales of the Shire video game is set to launch in late 2024. Additionally, there are more games in development, and whispers about a Middle-earth themed amusement park persist. In essence, this intellectual property is operating at full throttle, churning out content in various forms at an impressive pace.
The question is essentially asking if the increased adaptation of Middle-earth will be beneficial for Tolkien’s literary world, or if it signals an overload. In simpler terms, could we be witnessing a flourishing era of Middle-earth media, or are we heading towards its downfall? To rephrase, is this an era of prosperity for Middle-earth media, or are we approaching its end times?
Middle-earth is being milked for all it’s worth
Instead of approaching a question from just one perspective, I prefer to consider it from various angles. Before diving into specifics and providing an answer, I feel it’s important to acknowledge this: While there are numerous exciting projects on the horizon, it’s clear that the intellectual property (IP) of Middle-earth is being extensively utilized for financial gain. Every item mentioned earlier was conceived with profitability as its primary motivation.
It’s become particularly clear where this idea has been strongly emphasized: David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros., made it explicit through TheWrap when he said, “Our content, our valuable intellectual properties like ‘Harry Potter,’ DC, and ‘Lord of the Rings,’ have not been fully utilized.” Given the numerous projects in development, the fact that a significant player in the creation of Middle-earth media believes these properties are underutilized suggests an upcoming wave of adaptations, movies, TV shows, video games, and merchandise across various forms.
To set the record straight, I’m not fond of what you see here. I dislike it when financial gain dominates creativity. This is a frequent complaint that will always be relevant. Elijah Wood voiced similar thoughts regarding Warner Bros.’ upcoming Middle-earth films, stating in an interview with GQ, “Ultimately, the primary goal is to make a lot of money. It’s not like a group of executives are saying, ‘Let’s create fantastic art.'” However, Wood also emphasized that exceptional art can emerge from commerce, so long as the main driving force is respect for the original source – in this instance, J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe.
This tension between commercialism and art is why purists form their opinions and want their favorite stories to remain unsullied by the corrupting influence of corporate greed. It’s a valid opinion, and one that I partially subscribe to. That said, I haven’t called myself a “purist” in years specifically because, when taken too far, that attitude can spoil the entire experience, not just with adaptations but with the fandom as a whole. Besides, I have a counterpoint to consider.
Is excessive attention always a bad thing?
Tolkien’s world is too captivating to be confined to bookshelves indefinitely. It’s not just my perspective – it’s a fact. Artists, writers, filmmakers, and other creatives yearn to delve into, reimagine, and expand this extraordinary universe. Given this reality, it’s only a matter of time before someone takes up the mantle to explore and develop this cherished intellectual property.
Star Wars, following the release of its initial trilogy, remained relatively low-key for several decades. However, it made a strong comeback about a quarter of a century ago, and faced significant backlash from fans. Many other intellectual properties have had similar experiences. Despite the criticism and disappointment from some fans, there are Star Wars enthusiasts who appreciate or at least accept its current direction. Interestingly, the controversial resurgence and occasional subpar productions have led to some of the most creative highlights in recent times, such as “Andor” and the entertaining first season of “The Mandalorian.”
In summary, Lucas’ universe is largely shaped by the initial three films, while Middle-earth’s foundations run much deeper. It’s based on a rich literary tradition that spans over a lifetime to develop. This body of work has already secured its place as classic 20th-century literature. Notably, this provides fans with the original text as a reference point, allowing them to revisit the source material regardless of their feelings towards any particular adaptation.
Golden age or apocalypse?
It’s uncertain whether Middle-earth will experience a golden age or a dark one based on the upcoming wave of content. As we delve deeper into this content, many interpretations will likely emerge, some of which may be divisive. However, I believe the fate of these adaptations will largely depend on the fans’ attitudes. Can we appreciate and build upon past achievements in fantasy literature, evaluate each work individually, and then move forward? Or will we view every non-canonical interpretation as a threat or an infection that needs to be eliminated?
Remember, we will always have the immovable foundation of stories that flowed directly from Tolkien’s pen (along with a little help from his son, Christopher), and that will never change. They are embedded in our individual and collective consciousnesses, no matter what creatives decide to do with the IP in the future. This opens up the doors for the rest of us to sit back and enjoy each Middle-earth adventure within its own microcosm of existence in the larger Middle-earth collection. It doesn’t have to turn into a fact-checking homework assignment, a political proxy war, or a chance to vent unnecessary hate and aggression. (No joke, I recently saw a review for a Middle-earth project that included the line “Where Hope Dies.” Dramatic much?) Trust me. It’s okay to relax and collectively take in the uniquely varied experience that each creative group comes up with, be it a serialized story in the Second Age, an anime from the Third Age, a card game, or anything else.
scarcely does a fandom encounter such an abundance of creative fuel and vitality in its universe; inevitably, it will come to an end – savor it while you can.
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2024-09-02 19:00