Variety has reported that Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings has made its first casting decision. Joining the anticipated series is Australian actress Markella Kavenagh (Picnic at Hanging Rock). Specifics on Kavenagh’s role are currently being kept under wraps, but Variety notes her character is named Tyra.
Development on the series has been really picking up steam in the last few weeks. It was the start of July when they announced J.A. Bayona (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) is set to direct the first two episodes of the fantasy epic and serve as an executive producer alongside screenwriters JD Payne and Patrick McKay (Star Trek Beyond) with Game of Thrones‘ Bryan Cogman as a consultant. With Kavenagh’s casting, we may start hearing more names attached to the series and will hopefully learn more about her mysterious character.
The series is based on the Middle-earth works of J.R.R. Tolkien and serves as a prequel to The Lord of the Rings. Very little is known about the show, but according to Bayona and some teasers Amazon has released it will take place in the Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This was the Age all the Great Rings were forged and Sauron launched his assault on Middle-earth. Is is unknown though if we will see the events leading up to the creation of the rings, including the One Ring, and the War of the Last Alliance.
Amazon’s Lord of the Rings has been reported to become the most expensive TV show in history with a budget of around $1 billion across five seasons.
