Thread by @theoneringnet

[BREAKING] We have confirmed from multiple sources that @AmazonStudios new billion-dollar #LOTR series will open its first season centered on a young Aragorn.

Let's discuss whats available and how this opens up Tolkien's Legendarium. A thread. #Tolkien
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Firstly, we must stamp out any remaining confusion:

From the first press release, we know this so-called #LOTR series will NOT be a retelling of the events of the War of the Ring. #BeenThereDoneThat

Instead it will be Appendices based and cover a lot of time and history. /2

This is the greatest advantage the show runners have: that so much of Tolkien’s storytelling, even just in “Appendix A,” covers a tremendous swath of time.

Starting with a young Aragorn narrative allows connections to his Numenorean bloodline (and to the founding of #Gondor). /3

The fabric of Aragorn’s story is just so rich. Plentiful in new characters and familiar ones we already love. Recall in #BOTFA when #Thranduil tells his son about this person he must meet (even though we know in book-time Aragorn wasn’t born yet)? /4

If that mention of him wasn’t the biggest, brightest, neon-glaring indicator of how Aragorn’s story is ideally suited as a prime entry point for further Middle-earth stories, well then, you’re not thinking #Prime like Amazon is (sorry, just had to).... 😅
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We could, in flashbacks, learn essentials about the men of #Arnor, sister kingdom in the north to #Gondor, and how the surviving #Dunedain became a community of Rangers, seeking to protect the north from incursions of the Witch-king of Angmar. /6

With a vibrant historical background in place (fully explored in the Professor’s notations) the stage would be set for some of the most anticipated characters:
Arathorn himself, Elladan & Elrohir, the twin sons of Elrond, and #Gilraen, the lad’s Mother. /7

A moment now to speculate dream casting for Gilraen. Our staffer @Quickbeam2000 advocated at @WonderCon British actress Rosamund Pike (“Gone Girl”) would be ideal. Here she is in “Hostiles” struggling in the wilderness to protect her baby. #OrcsAreComing
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Aragorn the lad had his identity hidden. The secrecy surrounding his lineage was needful to prevent the enemy from slitting his throat in the middle of the night. Imagine a mother trying to protect her child amid such constant fear?

#Gilraen will be a terrific, meaty role. /9

Aragorn had more aliases than the talented Mr. Ripley (nod to Cate Blanchette).

Each alias, each assumed identity, allows the Amazon writers to explore more facets of this character.

#Estel
#Thorongil
#Strider

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Anything about the sacrifices of Gilraen in her efforts to protect Aragorn, and her introducing him to the Elves of Rivendell, will benefit connections to the Jackson films when we see this scene later, making them much more emotionally resonant:
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The political landscape of Rivendell, as we often see in #GameofThrones storylines, will come to fore. We will learn how difficult it was living in the North after the dissolution of #Arnor and how the #Elves navigated a relationship with the descendants of #Isildur.
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It doesn’t stop there.

Appendix A “Annals of the Kings & Rulers” gives us so much more about how young #Estel was smitten like a kitten when he first laid sight on #Arwen. Here we have a HUGE storyline on how they took their tentative first steps towards true (tragic) love. /13

Amongst all the connective tissue that puts a “young Aragorn” story firmly in a recognizable spot within the Third Age (and there’s a TON of it, thankfully) the biggest that might just give #Ringers a seizure, is a full-on moment where #Gandalf befriends #Strider. /14

Ultimately, given the pieces naturally in place thanks to #Tolkien, we can predict a significant milestone to be reached just in Season 1 - that pinnacle of the Appendix stories - the one made into a famous fan film in 2009:

THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM

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This bodes well. Whatever initial moves are made here are most crucial.

In the words of Frank Herbert from his classic #DUNE:
“A beginning is a very delicate time.”

This choice by @AmazonStudios to begin their Middle-Earth series with a universally adored character is....
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.... probably one of the smarter move they could make.

A) It allows familiar characters to take center stage

B) It brings in new characters without needing many “non canon” characters to be minted fresh (like #Tauriel)

C) It plays out in a timeframe close to the 6 films

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This leaves us at a place of wild speculation now.

Given this 1st Season context, we must ask:
-who will play whom?
-what kind of Gollum will they design/ mo-cap/ animate?
-omigod what about Howard Shore’s music?

We have all the time in the world to guess. BUT KNOW THIS:
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It is significant that the FORGING OF THE RINGS OF POWER and other deeper historical scenarios were not chosen for the opening season.

Amazon wants this endeavor to work. They NEED it to be fireproof and they need it to start off STRONG.

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If there were a better choice to launch a half-billion dollar endeavor, we can’t see it. The entire #YoungAragorn thing offers exactly what the fans want and minimizes risk for the studio.

Many of us have been predicting exactly this; and “That is an encouraging thought.”
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Join us on our message boards at @theoneringnet and come into our livestream show TORn Tuesday every week to parse these details and learn everything about this as we break more news exclusively here.

This is happening! It’s tremendous.

But what say you? Use #YoungAragorn
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