Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings series has found its first cast member in Markella Kavenagh. Set in a period long before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring, the series takes place on the J.R.R. Tolkien timeline known as the Second Age. Despite production being underway, major details remain concealed about the upcoming fantasy series.
Penned by Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings is one of the best-selling novels of all time, and spawned a slew of epic film adaptations helmed by Peter Jackson, including The Two Towers, Oscar-winner The Return of the King, and The Hobbit. Two years ago, Amazon studios shook the fantasy world then they officially ordered a Lord of the Rings TV series with a multi-season commitment. Still without an official title, the series will be set long before the events that unfolded in The Lord of the Rings films in a period known as the Second Age. Lasting 3,441 years, marking the One Ring’s conception, and ending with the defeat of Sauron’s army, the Second Age certainly offers plentiful story arcs and fresh faces for the saga. Building hype for the project, Amazon’s Lord of the Rings has announced the inaugural cast member.
According to Variety, Kavenagh joins the cast as a character named Tyra. Character details of Tyra remain under wraps, however, Tyra is a character never mentioned in Tolkien’s work. Which means Tyra is either a decoy name or a brand-new character invented strictly for the series. Australian actress Kavengah totes a short, but impressive, list of credits to her name and is known for her work in Romper Stomper, The Cry, and most recently, Picnic At Hanging Rock.
Hailing from Flash Gordon’s writing duo of Patrick McKay and John D. Payne, The Lord of the Rings series is in the creative hands of consultant Bryan Cogman (Game of Thrones), writer Gennifer Hutchinson (Breaking Bad), and J.A. Bayona (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) – who’s been tapped to direct multiple episodes. As of this writing, Amazon is eyeing a 2021 release date for The Lord of the Rings series. Apparently, Amazon has the intention to pack their fantasy/action slate, as the studio recently ordered a small screen adaptation of The Wheel of Time fantasy novels starring Rosamund Pike.
Rising star Kavenagh is a perfect addition to the cast and elusiveness of the Lord of the Rings TV series. The talented actress appears to tote wisdom far beyond her years and could effortlessly fit into Tolkein’s world as an elf, a hobbit, or a human. No doubt Kavenagh will soon be joined by a mixture of promising and established players to bring Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings TV series to life.
