The Hobbit Movie Forum

[Felagund]

Ok this just came to me so its probably crap at the moment but here goes:

The Rings of Power Trilogy (sequel to The Hobbit, Silmarillion and LOTR):

1. The Rise of Sauron – This film would start with an introduction detailing the birth of Númenor and its earliest eras of glory, with Galadriel’s voice. It would tell the story of Sauron’s rise to power, starting with his virtuous appearance as Annatar (Lord of Gifts) the forging of the great rings, the great piety of Númenor and then the sins of the Numenorean Kings after their goodness, and it would climax with Sauron’s war against the Elves and Tar-Palantir and his effort to repent of the sins of his forefathers. When Sauron put on the One Ring and tried to dominate the Elves, they became aware of his intent and removed their Rings. Sauron responded with military force, initiating the War of the Elves and Sauron and conquering much of the land west of Anduin. This began the Dark Years. He massacred Eregion, killed Celebrimbor, leader of the Elven-smiths, and seized the Seven and the Nine Rings of Power that had been previously forged with his assistance. However, Celebrimbor had forged the Three Rings himself without Sauron's help, and these were saved and remained in the hands of the Elves. Gil-Galad would be the hero of this film.
2. The Fall of Númenor – This film would relate the story of the last King of Númenor Ar-Pharazôn, hearing that Sauron was striving for the domination of Men and threatening to destroy Númenor, sent a great host to Middle-earth. Sauron's forces became afraid of the might of Númenor, and fled from the service of their master. Perceiving that he could not overthrow Númenor by strength of arms, Sauron humbled himself before the Númenórean King. Ar-Pharazôn was not convinced and had Sauron taken as a prisoner to Númenor. Soon he became the king's advisor, and corrupted the greater part of Númenor to the worship of Morgoth, offering human sacrifices and cutting down Nimloth, the White Tree. During this time, Númenor grew even more powerful thanks to Sauron's counsel, even as its people's joy and span of years lessened. Sauron convinced Ar-Pharazôn to assail Aman and wrest immortality from the Valar, saying that great kings take what rightfully belongs to them. Sauron's desire was to destroy the Númenóreans and their proud king with the wrath of the Valar (though not to destroy their kingdom), although he underestimated their power. When the Great Armament set foot on Aman, however, the Valar laid down their guardianship and called on Ilúvatar, who broke and remade the world. Eru destroyed Ar-Pharazôn and his Númenórean host, burying them under falling hills until the Dagor Dagorath. To Sauron's dismay, Ilúvatar also had Númenor sunk into the Belegaer, and Aman he removed forever from the circles of the world. The world that had been flat was now spherical, and Aman was only open to Elves, who could still find the Straight Road. This film would show the tragic death of Tar-Miriel in the wave, the heroine of the film who sadly dies at the end as a result of the evil of her cruel husband. The main protagonists would of course be Elendil and Isildur and how they tried to keep the "Faithful" alive.
3. The Last Alliance – This film would begin where the last ended. Nine ships carrying men of Númenórean royal blood, descendants of the Lords of Andúnië, of the House of Elros, were carried by the storm of the Downfall to the shores of Middle-earth. They were led by Elendil the Tall, and his two sons: Isildur and Anárion, bringing with them a seedling of the White Tree and the palantíri. These and the Númenóreans already living in Middle-earth carried the title of "The Faithful", signifying their continued devotion to the Valar and Eldar. They allied themselves with Gil-galad and marched in the War of the Last Alliance, in which Isildur cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand. The film would relate the lead up to the events of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men and climax with the battle. At the end the treachery of Isildur would be told in words up on the screen, as well as the explanation that Sauron was eventually fully defeated in the War of the Ring. It would be really anti-climatic to end with Isildur’s treachery. The brave death of Gil-galad would be shown in this film. It is he who will be the true hero throughout all three films and the main character. This film would end then with the beginning of the Third Age of Middle-Earth.

[Show]

I would have to insist that Elendil, his sons, and the faithful need to be included in the second film. Especially Isildur's retrieving of a cutting of Nimloth. Expecially since this would set up how good Isildur really was before the Ring corrupted him into not destroying it.

And I disagree with your ending. my thoughts would be to really take hold of the idea that you had for Galadriel to narrate.
Finish with the death of Isildur. But make it closer to the book version. With the ambush and his sending off the one man to bring the shards of Narsil to Imladris. This would show Isildur in a bit more of a tragic hero instead of just a schmuck.
Then end with the same line from the prolouge of the Fellowship of the Ring.

And some things that should not have been forgotten, were lost. History became legend, legend became myth, and for two-and-a-half thousand years, the Ring passed out of all knowledge.

I'm still sad, but I do fully understand, that Isildur seems like such a weak and worthless man. Kind of like Boromir can be seen. And both really were good people with none but the best of intentions and personal quality. It was through loss and grief at the hands of evil that allowed them to fall from grace near their ends. And I feel both kind of got a bit of the shaft in the LotR films.

[Beren]

Personally, I don't think this can be done. You're starting with the forging of the rings, in 1590 - 1600 of the second age. From then until Isildur dies is 1,843 years. How in the world can you make 3 films span 1,843 years? Split evenly between the films, that is 614 years each. This is impossible. Try reading the chronology of the second age in Appendix 2 in ROTK. There is SO MUCH that happened in those 1,843 years that it is utterly impossible to summarize it in a film without making it a boring documentary. In order to do it justice, you must make 20 -30 films!
Plus, the marketability of these would not be at a good level. The audience may go for a single prequel to LOTR, but not 3, much less 20 - 30! Plus, we are already looking at 3 - 5 films highlighting the Silmarillion. I think the audience would get all Tolkien-ed out, having 8 new films come out. In order to make it work, they must be spread out. Have one set come out in a 5 year span, then wait 20 years, and have the other set come out.

In summary: When I step back and look at this, it is way too massive to even think of doing. 3 LOTR films. 2 Hobbit films. 5 (max) Silmarillion films. 3(max) LOTR-prequel films. That equals 13 films!! This is insane. They would become so boring and everyday that no one would like them, even me! It's like the Brian Jacques books, and the Harry Potter films. They get a manufactured flavor, and it totally turns people off.

[Felagund]

Personally, I don't think this can be done. You're starting with the forging of the rings, in 1590 - 1600 of the second age. From then until Isildur dies is 1,843 years. How in the world can you make 3 films span 1,843 years? Split evenly between the films, that is 614 years each. This is impossible. Try reading the chronology of the second age in Appendix 2 in ROTK. There is SO MUCH that happened in those 1,843 years that it is utterly impossible to summarize it in a film without making it a boring documentary. In order to do it justice, you must make 20 -30 films!
Plus, the marketability of these would not be at a good level. The audience may go for a single prequel to LOTR, but not 3, much less 20 - 30! Plus, we are already looking at 3 - 5 films highlighting the Silmarillion. I think the audience would get all Tolkien-ed out, having 8 new films come out. In order to make it work, they must be spread out. Have one set come out in a 5 year span, then wait 20 years, and have the other set come out.

In summary: When I step back and look at this, it is way too massive to even think of doing. 3 LOTR films. 2 Hobbit films. 5 (max) Silmarillion films. 3(max) LOTR-prequel films. That equals 13 films!! This is insane. They would become so boring and everyday that no one would like them, even me! It's like the Brian Jacques books, and the Harry Potter films. They get a manufactured flavor, and it totally turns people off.

Aha but who's to say I meant this idea soon It could be an idea for later on in the century when we're old and grey looking back on (hopefully) the Hobbit Movies and Silmarillion

[Eldorion]

It would probably be possible to take the last two movies and make them - either as a single movie or as a duology. I'm sure some of you have seen the incomplete treatment for a Westernesse movie, but I'll post it here anyway. (Warning: it is VERY long.)

However, as Beren pointed out, if you include the Forging of the Rings of Power it would spread the timeline out far too long. It would, I suppose, be possible to make that a stand-alone prequel film, but that would sort of ruin the idea of a Trilogy.

Of course, the matter of film rights would need to be settled before this would be viable, and I don't think that the Tolkien Estate is going to sell them anytime soon.

[Odo Banks]

I don't see why a lot of movies can't be made. Look at the plethora of historical movies set in our own world. The Second Age is long and eventful. To pick out a story here and there and make it into a movie would work, though I think the actual Trilogy Idea might get a bit formulaic. Separate movies, separate treatments, different directors, different writers, all stories plucked from different parts of the History of Numenor and/or Middle-earth - why not?

Odo

[demonslyr]

I suppose it's possible, but it would be a lot of work, a lot of money...and...just not worth it.

But it was still a good idea, and...who knows? =)

Demon

[Eldorion]

I suppose it's possible

Not till the Tolkien Estate sells the rights, which I don't think will be anytime soon) or the books go into the public domain (again, not happening anytime soon).

[Odo Banks]

Money would be needed and permission granted like has already been intimated on this thread, and I agree this would seem unlikely. Nonetheless, there is no reason why any number of good movies could not be made. How many historical movies are already out there? Plenty. Why not from the History of Middle-earth?

Odo

[halfwise]

I disagree with Beren's contention that filming over that large a time scale can't be done. Felagund just mapped it out for you. And the time expanse is not an issue: look at Highlander for instance. Despite it's shortcomings, it shows that a story can be maintained through the centuries. All that matters is how much primary story you need to tell - the extra historical details are just background