Rings of Power Creators Reveal LOTR Creature That Won’t Appear in Series

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As a lifelong cinephile who has traversed the fantastical realms of Middle-earth more times than I can remember, I must admit that the second season of Amazon’s “The Rings of Power” left me utterly enchanted. The series, with its breathtaking visuals and rich storytelling, has truly captured the essence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s world in a way that few adaptations have managed to do.

In the past month, the second season of “The Rings of Power” wrapped up on Amazon’s Prime Video. Though viewers were delighted by various creatures reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works during its run, creators J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay hint that a well-known mythical creature might never make an appearance. Debuting in 2022, this fantasy series has already gained significant popularity with an estimated 150 million viewers enjoying and interacting with it, as stated by Amazon MGM Studios’ head Jennifer Salke. Both seasons have garnered an impressive 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, despite some criticism that the show is too “woke.” However, many fans believe that Season 2 significantly outshone Season 1 in quality.

During a recent Reddit Q&A session, Payne and McKay were available to address viewers’ queries, and it was during this discussion that the topic of dragons emerged. So far, Smaug is arguably the most renowned dragon on screen, having first appeared in the 2012 film “An Unexpected Journey,” which kicked off the The Hobbit trilogy, and continued through to its conclusion in 2014 with “The Battle of the Five Armies“. At this point, dragons have not yet been featured in The Rings of Power. As stated by McKay, they will only appear if the situation demands it.

In the world of Tolkien, dragons stand out as extraordinary and distinct entities. They possess legendary names and have the ability to communicate verbally, but only under specific circumstances and with valid justification. Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Smaug is difficult to surpass. Furthermore, there exists another fantasy series featuring numerous dragons. Whether we would explore this idea depends on the presence of a compelling Tolkien-esque concept and a strong reason to do so.

There’s More Than Just Smaug in Tolkien’s Writings

In contrast to Smaug, the dragon most famously portrayed in films from Middle-earth, there existed other dragons within J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings that may not be as well-known among those who haven’t read his books. These include Glaurung, the original dragon, and Ancalagon the Black, which can be found in “The Silmarillion.” Additionally, Scatha is mentioned in the appendices of “The Lord of the Rings.

Indeed, besides the well-known dragons, there were others unnamed in Tolkien’s works. Among these was the mechanical war-dragons that made their debut in the tale The Fall of Gondolin. This story was initially published in The Book of Lost Tales Vol. 2 back in 1984, and later on, it was released as a standalone novel in 2018.

In the Second Age of Middle-earth, as depicted in “The Rings of Power”, it’s unlikely we’ll see Glaurung or Ancalagon the Black, as they were dragons from the First Age. However, Scatha might make an appearance since he wasn’t killed until the third age and not much is known about him prior to that period, thus allowing creators Payne and McKay room for interpretation, similar to how they handled a young Shelob in Season 2. It’s pleasing to see that they are giving dragons the respect they deserve, reflecting their dedication to portraying Tolkien’s world accurately. Fingers crossed they maintain this approach in Season 3, though an official confirmation for its renewal is yet to be announced, we anticipate it any day soon.

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2024-11-04 22:04