Series Cast & Crew. Directed by (18) Writing credits (2) Cast (482) Produced by (21) Music by (1) Cinematography by (6) Film Editing by (6). Nurses (TV Series 2020– ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.

As with much of the film and television industry, production on the Lord of the Rings TV show had been put on pause due to the coronavirus. However, there's been reports that – due to filming taking place in New Zealand, where cases of COVID have been particularly low – work has already begun again on the series!

Episodes Tv Show Cast

During the break, we learnt a fair amount about the Lord of the Rings TV show, including a number of casting announcements and even word of a few recognisable characters popping up here and there. We’ve scoured the internet like Sauron's eye searching the plains of Mordor to bring you everything we know about the upcoming adventure through Middle Earth. Below, we break down more of what you need to know about the upcoming Lord of the Rings TV show. To Mordor!

Latest update: Filming has reportedly begun again on the show. Plus, there's word that Galadriel, Elrond, and Sauron could make appearances in the series.

• The 30 best Netflix shows
• The 30 best movies on Amazon
• The 30 best shows on Amazon

Lord of the Rings TV show's release date

The Lord of the Rings TV show currently has no release date. However, we do know that Amazon – the company rumoured to have already spent $250 million on buying the rights to the series – has started production. There were reports that they were trying for a December 2021 release date, which would have made sense pre-pandemic. However, due to these unforeseen circumstances, there's no real knowing when we will see Middle Earth back on screens.

Reports previously indicated that the first two episodes – directed by Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom's J.A. Bayona – will be filmed back-to-back before a four-to-five-month hiatus. In this time, the showrunners will see what's working, and then map out the already-commissioned season 2. Deadline reports that season 2 may even film back-to-back with some later episodes from the first season, hence the need for a break and to have a solid two-season plan before venturing forward.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Amazon Studios Head Jennifer Salke corroborated this timeline, explaining: “It’ll be in production in two years. 2021 is the hope. But there are other people who wish it was 2020.”

A photo posted by @filmbayona on Mar 4, 2020 at 10:26am PST

Filming began in early 2020, with Bayona posting a behind the scenes image of a tree. 'The light from our set accidentally cast on top of a tree and it made it look like a strange cloud from a Miyazaki movie. #nightshoot,' he captioned the image on Instagram.

However, the shoot soon stopped due to coronavirus, seising for a few months. Now, though, things are reportedly underway again, with Bayona and the cast and crew working under new COVID laws to complete their work. New Zealand has continuously had the coronavirus under control much better than many other countries, so it's no surprise that they have been able to allow people back to work much sooner than in other countries such as the United States.

The Lord of the Rings writers and directors

Writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay will act as co-showrunners on the new series. Speaking of their appointment, they said in a joint statement: “We feel like Frodo, setting out from the Shire, with a great responsibility in our care. It is the beginning of the adventure of a lifetime.”

Joining them as a consultant is Bryan Cogman, who is best known for rising from as assistant on Game of Thrones to writing some of the HBO fantasy series' best episodes. Also announced to be writing episodes for the Lord of the Rings TV show are Gennifer Hutchinson (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul), Helen Shang (Hannibal), Justin Dohle (Stranger Things), and Stephany Folsom (Toy Story 4).

Tv Show Casting Calls 2021

Meanwhile, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom director J.A. Bayona will helm the first two episodes of the first season (Amazon have signed on to produce five seasons) and will act as an executive producer. There are also some other extremely exciting behind-the-camera persons, including costume designer Kate Hawley (Edge of Tomorrow, Suicide Squad), production designer Rick Heinrichs (Sleepy Hollow, Star Wars: The Last Jedi), and visual effects supervisor Jason Smith (Super 8, Avengers). Concept artist John Howe, who worked on Jackson's trilogy, will also have the same position on the show.

“This team is our Fellowship, assembled from around the world, all walking the road together to try and accomplish something far greater than any of us could on our own,” McKay and Payne said in a statement. And what an incredible fellowship, indeed.

Lord of the Rings TV Show cast

After a multitude of reports concerning casting, Amazon has finally confirmed the first 15 names joining the main cast. They are Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Budge, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, and Daniel Weyman.

One of the biggest announcements from the group is Game of Thrones alumni Joseph Mawle, a veteran television and film actor best known for playing Benjen Stark, has joined the cast. The Hollywood Reporter claims that the actor will likely play the villain Oren, though no character in the source material appears to be called this.

Then there's Robert Aramayo, who – like Mawle – previously played a Stark in Game of Thrones, having appeared as a young Ned Stark. He replaced Midsommar's Will Poulter as the leading male star in the show.

Variety previously reported that His Dark Materials actress Morfydd Clark has signed on to play a young Galadriel. The character – one of the three elves given a ring of power – was portrayed by Cate Blanchett in Peter Jackson's movies. The announcement works with the Lord of the Rings TV series' Second Age setting, as Galadriel is over 7000 years old by the time the events of the movies take place.

Variety also first reported that Markella Kavenagh, an Australian actress best known for starring in the Romper Stomper TV show, joined the cast as the show's female lead. Details regarding her character are being kept very under wraps, though she has a name: Tyra. Ema Horvath – who appeared in the Blumhouse horror Like.Share.Follow – has also been cast in a main role.

There have also been reports that Maxim Baldry, of Years & Years fame, has been cast in a lead role. Deadline adds that Amazon co-head of television Vernon Sanders previously noted, “We still have a few key roles to cast,” and that Baldry is one of those 'key roles'.

Er Tv Show Cast

In other casting news, Sir Ian McKellen – who played Gandalf in the three Lord of the Rings movies and The Hobbit trilogy – has said that no other actor could play the wise wizard. “What do you mean, another Gandalf?” McKellen told Graham Norton when asked whether someone could take over the role. “I haven’t said yes because I haven’t been asked. But are you suggesting that someone else is going to play it? Gandalf is over 7,000 years old, so I’m not too old.”

The Lord of the Rings TV show will feature familiar characters

As noted, Morfydd Clark will reportedly play Galadriel. This works within the setting (more on that later) and also opens the doors to a few other familiar faces.

Reports have indicated that we can expect Elrond, played by Hugo Weaving in the movies, and plays a key role in Tolkien's work. During the Second Age, Elrond establishes Rivendell as a refuge for the Elves. As seen in The Lord of the Rings, he plays a key part in defeating Sauron. Speaking of the Dark Lord...

There's also word that Sauron will play a key part in the series. Considering how 'The Lord of the Rings' title refers to Sauron, it makes sense that the villain will be part of the TV series. There's no word on casting for Sauron or Elrond.

The Lord of the Rings TV show setting

Welcome to the Second Age: https://t.co/Tamd0oRgTwMarch 7, 2019

Despite theories to the contrary, looks like the Lord of the Rings TV show takes place in the Second Age - counting out a potential series centred on a young Aragon (Strider was not born until the Third Age).

The setting was revealed when Amazon posted an image of the island of Númenor; home to Aragorn's people, the Númenoreans (who are, to massively simplify things, humans with a very long lifespan). They lived there until their home was destroyed, making it a ruin by the events of the main Lord of the Rings story. Whether the show is set on Númenor remains to be seen, but fans certainly are eager to get an insight into the world that came before the movies, with many hoping to see how Sauron rose to power. Perhaps we will even see the forging of the One Ring (which happened in the year 1600 - the Second Age lasted 3441 years).

Tolkien scholar Tom Shippey has also revealed that Amazon had no choice in the matter when it came to the Lord of the Rings TV show's setting. Despite the streaming service spending $250 million on the rights to Tolkien's work, the author's estate have made it mandatory that the show does not cross over with the events of Jackson's movies – Lord of the Rings or Hobbit.

“It's a bit of a minefield – you have to tread very carefully”, he told Deutsche Tolkien. “The Tolkien estate will insist that the main shape of the Second Age is not altered. Sauron invades Eriador, is forced back by a Númenórean expedition, returns to Númenor. There he corrupts the Númenóreans and seduces them to break the ban of the Valar. All this, the course of history, must remain the same.

Old Tv Show Actors

“But you can add new characters and ask a lot of questions, like: What has Sauron done in the meantime? Where was he after Morgoth was defeated? Theoretically, Amazon can answer these questions by inventing the answers, since Tolkien did not describe it. But it must not contradict anything which Tolkien did say. That’s what Amazon has to watch out for. It must be canonical, it is impossible to change the boundaries which Tolkien has created. It is necessary to remain ‘Tolkienian’.”

The Tolkien estate has denied the claims, though Amazon has yet to officially say anything on the matter.

Filming location

Amazon has confirmed that the Lord of the Rings TV show will be filmed in New Zealand; the country that provided the astonishing setting of Peter Jackson's trilogy. Showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay said of bringing the series back to New Zealand: “As we searched for the location in which we could bring to life the primordial beauty of the Second Age of Middle-earth, we knew we needed to find somewhere majestic, with pristine coasts, forests, and mountains, that also is a home to world-class sets, studios, and highly skilled and experienced craftspeople and other staff.' Expect lots of aerial shots of snowy peaks, rolling hillsides, and craggy cliff faces.

The Lord of Rings TV show won't involve Peter Jackson

Sadly, Peter Jackson, who directed the film trilogy, has confirmed he is not involved with Amazon's TV adaptation. He said at a New York Comic Con panel last year that he's 'kind of looking forward to it' as a viewer instead. 'I was a guy who didn't get to see the Lord of the Rings like everybody else because I had to make it', Jackson explained, 'so I'm looking forward to seeing somebody else's take on the Tolkien world.'

Check out which series you should be watching this year with the best new TV shows coming in 2020 and beyond.