The Untold Secrets of Middle-earth Unveiled: The Showrunners' Fascinating Journey into Tolkien's Second Age

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has faced a constant battle in the form of a culture war since its debut. The show's audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is less than 40%, making it challenging to differentiate between genuine disappointment from devoted fans and pure malice. Nevertheless, J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, the showrunners who earned the opportunity to helm the series due to their ardent appreciation for Tolkien's work, have persistently worked to counter the widespread criticism of Rings of Power. They have done so by conducting expressive interviews and expressing their deep admiration for Tolkien's creations. In these interviews, their most notable remarks revolve around their collaboration with Tolkien's family estate. Through this partnership, they aim to bring the Second Age to life onscreen—a period that Tolkien did not extensively explore compared to the events of the First and Third ages.

Regarding the franchise's most iconic and immortal characters such as Galadriel, Elrond, and Sauron, little is known about their involvement in the Second Age. While Lord of the Rings fans do understand the significance of these characters within the overarching timeline, their early histories remain shrouded in uncertainty. This is because the events of the Second Age span over multiple centuries and geographical locations. In the gaps left by this lack of information, Payne and McKay seek to offer their own interpretations of these beloved characters to one of the largest television audiences in history.

So, how did it all begin? Initially, Amazon had to acquire the rights to produce an original series based on Lord of the Rings. Around the same time, HBO also aimed to create their own original content. However, the estate was not interested in HBO's focus on spinoff shows and other stories set in Middle Earth's Third Age, especially considering HBO would have complete creative control. On the other hand, Amazon proposed involving the estate in the writing process and granting them some executive authority. Although Amazon didn't have any specific ideas initially, Tolkien's inheritors agreed to come on board.

Amazon selected Payne and McKay to lead the project based on their impressive elevator pitch. They approached networks/streaming companies by proposing to expand upon Galadriel's monologue from the opening minutes of Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring and turn it into a full-fledged series. Upon accepting this proposal, Amazon established guidelines with Tolkien's estate regarding the use of source materials for the series. Consequently, the project Rings of Power was approved, receiving the green light from both Amazon and Tolkien's inheritors.

However, Payne and McKay encountered a major hurdle during the writing process as they were unable to access the Silmarillion directly from Tolkien's estate. Consequently, their work primarily focuses on the events of the Second Age, with limited references to the First Age. This limitation may lead some critics to raise concerns and hesitate about the series' potential.

Despite facing restrictions, Payne and McKay are determined to create a powerful narrative across the five seasons of the show. In an interview with Esquire (October 2022), they expressed their belief that there is an extensive history spanning thousands of years. They emphasized the complexity of the canon and described the show as a lifelong work. They also expressed their joy in discovering that there is no end or limit to the storytelling possibilities, with every aspect of the world holding its own story.

During the pitching process, both writers used maps of Arda to showcase their commitment as storytellers to revealing the vastness of Tolkien's imagination that has not been explored in mainstream cinema. Regardless of one's personal preferences for the new series, it is evident that the creators are making commendable efforts to expand on both new and existing characters using the legal lore available to them.

By journey's end, Rings of Power, a five-season series, is expected to surprise many Lord of the Rings fans. Despite being first-time showrunners, Payne and Clark boast an impressive 25-year writing career in the industry. Their collaborations with J.J. Abrams on notable projects like Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013) and Disney's Jungle Cruise (2021) add to their credentials. Additionally, they are also involved in an upcoming untitled Star Trek film, further showcasing their expertise and potential influence derived from their work with Abrams.

Payne and McKay aim to uncover and shed light on hidden histories within the vast lore of Middle Earth. Their focus lies specifically on the twilight years of the Second Age. With the guidance of Tolkien's estate, they are hopeful in capturing the attention of devoted fans, potentially diverting them from the brink of outright conflict with Amazon's flagship series. Can we expect glimpses into Angbad, Balrogs, and the dark lord Melkor himself? It's highly probable, aligned with the showrunners' aspirations. However, their creativity is restrained by the inability to directly reference the Silmarillion.

In the upcoming four seasons, many concerns raised by fans in the first season may be satisfactorily resolved. Just like a Maiar appearing during times of great darkness to drown out the menacing drums, the concluding remarks of Payne and McKay's affectionate tribute to Tolkien could effectively dispel any remaining doubts.