Jeff Bezos' Son Had A Very Serious Warning For Him About The Rings Of Power
Long before names like Aragorn and Frodo Baggins defeated the forces of darkness once and for all and became legends for their accomplishments, there was the Second Age of Middle-earth. An era of tension, turmoil, and fear, it was far from a peaceful time for the Free Peoples of the world. This period in author J.R.R. Tolkien's literary canon is one of the most fascinating he ever wrote of, yet all too often, it winds up overlooked. Thankfully, that's about to change via "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," which will explore this period in vivid detail.
Set thousands of years before the events of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "The Rings of Power" will spotlight the ancient world of Middle-earth as a mysterious evil begins to rear its ugly head. It features a massive ensemble cast of heroes, villains, and those in-between, who all have a part to play in the impending power struggle — one that spans numerous kingdoms, caves, and communities across the land. That may sound like quite the pricey endeavor, but for the company behind it, Amazon, it wasn't too much of a financial burden.
The "Rings of Power" team went above and beyond to do right by Tolkien's works on the small screen. As did Amazon's figurehead, Jeff Bezos, who took in a stern warning from one of his sons when he first got involved with the project.
Bezos' son warned him not to botch The Rings of Power
At the United Kingdom premiere of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," Jeff Bezos spoke on the series, congratulated those behind it for their efforts, and touched on what the Tolkien universe means to him. Additionally, he mentioned how much it means to his children. "After Amazon got involved in this project, my son came up to me one day, he looked me in the eyes, very sincerely, and he said: 'Dad, please don't eff this up,'" Bezos recalled, and he took that comment to heart. He adds that he knows how much Middle-earth means to so many people, so he took the responsibility of adapting it very seriously (via Variety).
Whether Bezos and the "Rings of Power" team did right by Tolkien and his fans is still unknown. On the other hand, if early reactions from critics are of any indication, then odds are the general public will indeed love the upcoming series (via Rotten Tomatoes). From the cast to the pacing and especially the visuals, "The Rings of Power" is a homerun among those who've had the chance to see its first two episodes ahead of the streaming premiere. Perhaps most importantly, according to many, it perfectly captures the essence of Middle-earth, which is half the battle when it comes to adapting any of Tolkien's writings.
"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" kicks off its inaugural season on September 2, 2022 (here's the complete release schedule for those curious), and when it does, it'll be interesting to see how well Jeff Bezos and the minds behind the program handled the source material.