Production on the upcoming Lord of the Rings series recently commenced in New Zealand, and Amazon has now announced 20 new cast members for the show.
Setting off on this new Middle-earth adventure will be: Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Power, The Accountant), Maxim Baldry (Years and Years), newcomer Ian Blackburn, Kip Chapman (Top of the Lake), Anthony Crum (The Wilds), Maxine Cunliffe (Power Rangers Megaforce), Trystan Gravelle (The Terror), Sir Lenny Henry (Broadchurch), Thusitha Jayasundera (Broadchurch), Fabian McCallum (You, Me & The Apocalypse), Simon Merrells (Knightfall), Geoff Morrell (Rake), Peter Mullan (Westworld), Lloyd Owen (Viva Laughlin), Augustus Prew (The Morning Show), Peter Tait (Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), Alex Tarrant (Filthy Rich), Leon Wadham (Power Rangers Beast Morphers), Benjamin Walker (Jessica Jones) and Sara Zwangobani (Home and Away).
No details on any of their characters have been revealed, but they join a core cast that includes Robert Aramayo (Game of Thrones), Owain Arthur (Kingdom), Nazanin Boniadi (Counterpart) and Joseph Mawle (Game of Thrones).
As far as we know, Markella Kavenagh's Galadriel will be the only previously established LOTR character involved.
"The world that J.R.R. Tolkien created is epic, diverse and filled with heart. These extraordinarily talented performers, hailing from across the globe, represent the culmination of a multiyear search to find brilliant and unique artists to bring that world to life anew," said showrunners/executive producers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay in a joint statement. "The international cast of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings series is more than just an ensemble. It is a family. We are thrilled to welcome each of them to Middle-earth."
Plot specifics are few and far between, but it has been confirmed that the story will take place many years before the events of the first installment in J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring. The show has already been renewed for a second season.
J.A. Bayona (The Orphanage, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) will direct the first two episodes and serve as EP with his partner Belén Atienza.
A premiere date for Lord of the Rings has not been set.