Never let a good property die, or, at least keep the door open for side reentry in case. This seems to be the idea of “Tolkien,” Focus Features new film about “The Lord of the Rings” author J.R.R. Tolkien. No, it’s not another ‘Hobbit’ movie or a ‘LOTR’ spin-off like “The Silmarillion.” Instead, it looks like something of an origin story: how Tolkien used his super power of imagination to dream up the epic ‘Lord Of The Rings’ mythology, characters and world, and how he drew from his real life experiences and friends to create this rich and sprawling universe.
But while it will surely have some supernatural and fantastical elements to depict the ideas and imagination that is brewing, the film is decidedly a drama that falls into the “how legendary authors came up with cool sh*t” genre like “Finding Neverland,” “Christopher Robin,” and feel-good dramas of this ilk. You’re never to young to dream, this genre always seems to say. Here’s the official synopsis:
TOLKIEN explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school. This takes him into the outbreak of World War I, which threatens to tear the “fellowship” apart. All of these experiences would inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-Earth novels.
Written by David Gleeson and Stephen Beresford, “Tolkien” stars Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, Colm Meaney, Anthony Boyle, Patrick Gibson, Tom Glynn-Carney, Craig Roberts, Laura Donnelly, Genevieve O’Reilly, Pam Ferris and Derek Jacobi.
Directed by Dome Karukoski, the extraordinary story of love, courage, and fellowship that informed ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and other Middle-Earth adventures arrives theaters on May 10. You can watch the trailer below:
