Potential Middle Earth movies in the future? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Zigûr · 10-15-2017, 05:59 AM

I think this is likely as well. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were already famous texts before the films. Putting aside the fact that they would have to almost completely invent the plot from whole cloth (and the Dol Guldur material in the most recent films shows how that can go) I can't imagine how they would market a spinoff.

Rhun charioteer · 10-16-2017, 05:12 PM

Given that Hollywood currently has a paucity of ideas and the LOTR trilogy is looked upon very favorably(go to any YouTube comment section with LOTR clips) I suspect we might be seeing a new LOTR movie adaptation sooner than later.

Perhaps not until at least 20-25 years after Jackson's films were released(2020s-2030s) but I believe it will happen.

William Cloud Hicklin · 10-29-2017, 05:13 PM

Oh, wunnerful. "Tolkien" movies comprising entirely third-rate fanfic.

Anyone who thinks Shadow of Mordor has any connection to Tolkien whatsoever beyond some nomenclature licensed from the Tower of Orzaentz should be legally barred from ever touching a Tolkien-oriented project.

Hollywood is entirely free to make all the crappy brain-dead sword 'n' sorcery flicks it likes without sullying the Professor's legacy, thank you very much.,

Inziladun · 10-29-2017, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Hollywood is entirely free to make all the crappy brain-dead sword 'n' sorcery flicks it likes without sullying the Professor's legacy, thank you very much.,

But Tolkien is where the money is! You can't very well expect to have a blockbuster Xena/Hercules/Dungeons and Dragons style flick with a screenplay written by Billy Joe Johnson from El Paso, TX.

Zigûr · 10-29-2017, 09:35 PM

If they were to make some kind of fan fiction spinoff, it'd have to be called The Lord of the Rings: <SUBTITLE> or similar; otherwise I suspect very few people would see it. The "brand recognition" would need to be manufactured.

Nerwen · 11-03-2017, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Oh, wunnerful. "Tolkien" movies comprising entirely third-rate fanfic.

Anyone who thinks Shadow of Mordor has any connection to Tolkien whatsoever beyond some nomenclature licensed from the Tower of Orzaentz should be legally barred from ever touching a Tolkien-oriented project.

Hollywood is entirely free to make all the crappy brain-dead sword 'n' sorcery flicks it likes without sullying the Professor's legacy, thank you very much.,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zigûr

If they were to make some kind of fan fiction spinoff, it'd have to be called The Lord of the Rings: <SUBTITLE> or similar; otherwise I suspect very few people would see it. The "brand recognition" would need to be manufactured.

But is there any legal barrier to them doing exactly this?

Michael Murry · 11-03-2017, 10:50 PM

I just came across this at Rolling Stone:

http://"http://www.rollingstone.com/...works-w511077"

I have no idea what to make of this. I had hoped to see a spin-off series featuring the Elf Chick security guard searching high and low for a dwarf with something in his pants -- or nothing, whatever -- but then someone made a movie of Wonder Woman and now we hear of sequels in store for that franchise. So I guess my lurid Muddle Earth fantasies will go unconsummated, on film or digital media, for the foreseeable future.

Huinesoron · 03-07-2018, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Anyone who thinks Shadow of Mordor has any connection to Tolkien whatsoever beyond some nomenclature licensed from the Tower of Orzaentz should be legally barred from ever touching a Tolkien-oriented project.

The thing about SoM is you play it, and you go 'yeah, I can see what they're trying for here, it's not where I'd take it but it's a reasonable guess at Orc society in Mordor'... and then you take on another main storyline mission and find out that (uh, spoilers I guess?) Gollum is Celebrimbor's biggest fan, or Talion the Half-Nazgul is super down with helping orcs for some reason, or Sauron's war-leaders all hide somewhere and never go near their troops unless someone kills their favourite pig or whatever.

And then you go 'wut'.

(Also it becomes increasingly clear that the developers think Eregion was in Mordor, which is all manner of messed up.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zigûr

I wonder if they saved or lost money by splitting the project into three films when it was originally meant to be two.

You'd also need to wonder whether they made more money by adding the extra stuff. Ignore the extra tickets just from having three films - how many people did they draw in by having Cate Blanchett and Christopher Lee in there? They're both popular actors; I'm sure they sold a few seats. (And in contrast, I doubt very many people went 'well, I was all for it when it was two movies, but three? They're not getting my money!'. Maybe some, though.)

Also there's all the money they must have made from the theme park... what? Whaddaya mean there wasn't one? But... the barrel ride! The thing with the molten gold! DoS was blatantly an advert for their big rollercoasters!

hS

Aaron · 03-08-2018, 01:01 PM

You couldn't make a movie about it of course, but would anyone else like to see a short film based on The New Shadow? What Tolkien wrote was very dialogue heavy, but dripping in menace and unease, and I could see it working very well if someone were to try and put it to film.

Eldy · 03-14-2018, 09:44 PM

The New Shadow is intriguing as a fragment but I don't really want to see someone who is not Tolkien try to extend it; at least not as a licensed adaptation that a lot of people would interpret it as "official" in some way. But I don't think an adaptation that broke off at the same place as the text, before there's any payoff to any of the ideas that are introduced, would be very satisfying. I can see how others disagree, though.

Faramir Jones · 03-20-2018, 08:43 AM

Eldorion, I agree that the problem with trying to film The New Shadow is that there's only a fragment starting the story, with nothing else written by Tolkien about it, not even a summary, framework, or timeline.

My own suggestion is that Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife would be a good story to film. It has both politics and romance, the romance going wrong having serious political implications, with a twist in the tale being the revelation of why Aldarion spent so much time away from Numenor. Even if there are only fragments at the end, there are enough so that part of the story can be reconstructed. There would be the option, however, to end the story with Tar-Meneldur making known his decision to abdicate...

What do people think?

10-15-2017, 05:59 AM	#1
Zigûr Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 785	I think this is likely as well. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were already famous texts before the films. Putting aside the fact that they would have to almost completely invent the plot from whole cloth (and the Dol Guldur material in the most recent films shows how that can go) I can't imagine how they would market a spinoff. __________________ "Since the evening of that day we have journeyed from the shadow of Tol Brandir." "On foot?" cried Éomer.

10-29-2017, 05:13 PM	#3
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	Oh, wunnerful. "Tolkien" movies comprising entirely third-rate fanfic. Anyone who thinks Shadow of Mordor has any connection to Tolkien whatsoever beyond some nomenclature licensed from the Tower of Orzaentz should be legally barred from ever touching a Tolkien-oriented project. Hollywood is entirely free to make all the crappy brain-dead sword 'n' sorcery flicks it likes without sullying the Professor's legacy, thank you very much., __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

10-29-2017, 09:35 PM	#5
Zigûr Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 785	If they were to make some kind of fan fiction spinoff, it'd have to be called The Lord of the Rings: <SUBTITLE> or similar; otherwise I suspect very few people would see it. The "brand recognition" would need to be manufactured. __________________ "Since the evening of that day we have journeyed from the shadow of Tol Brandir." "On foot?" cried Éomer.

11-03-2017, 10:50 PM	#7
Michael Murry Haunting Spirit Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 85	Lord of the Rings TV Series in the works I just came across this at Rolling Stone: http://"http://www.rollingstone.com/...works-w511077" I have no idea what to make of this. I had hoped to see a spin-off series featuring the Elf Chick security guard searching high and low for a dwarf with something in his pants -- or nothing, whatever -- but then someone made a movie of Wonder Woman and now we hear of sequels in store for that franchise. So I guess my lurid Muddle Earth fantasies will go unconsummated, on film or digital media, for the foreseeable future. __________________ "If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Tweedledee

03-08-2018, 01:01 PM	#9
Aaron Haunting Spirit Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: England Posts: 96	You couldn't make a movie about it of course, but would anyone else like to see a short film based on The New Shadow? What Tolkien wrote was very dialogue heavy, but dripping in menace and unease, and I could see it working very well if someone were to try and put it to film. __________________ Remember, stranger, passing by: As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you shall be. Prepare thyself to follow me.

10-16-2017, 05:12 PM	#2
Rhun charioteer Wight Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 118	Given that Hollywood currently has a paucity of ideas and the LOTR trilogy is looked upon very favorably(go to any YouTube comment section with LOTR clips) I suspect we might be seeing a new LOTR movie adaptation sooner than later. Perhaps not until at least 20-25 years after Jackson's films were released(2020s-2030s) but I believe it will happen.

03-14-2018, 09:44 PM	#10
Eldy Pile O'Bones Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Maryland, United States Posts: 22	The New Shadow is intriguing as a fragment but I don't really want to see someone who is not Tolkien try to extend it; at least not as a licensed adaptation that a lot of people would interpret it as "official" in some way. But I don't think an adaptation that broke off at the same place as the text, before there's any payoff to any of the ideas that are introduced, would be very satisfying. I can see how others disagree, though.

03-20-2018, 08:43 AM	#11
Faramir Jones Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lonely Isle Posts: 706	How about 'Aldrion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife'? Eldorion, I agree that the problem with trying to film The New Shadow is that there's only a fragment starting the story, with nothing else written by Tolkien about it, not even a summary, framework, or timeline. My own suggestion is that Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife would be a good story to film. It has both politics and romance, the romance going wrong having serious political implications, with a twist in the tale being the revelation of why Aldarion spent so much time away from Numenor. Even if there are only fragments at the end, there are enough so that part of the story can be reconstructed. There would be the option, however, to end the story with Tar-Meneldur making known his decision to abdicate... What do people think?