In a statement about his appointment, the 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' director gushes that he 'can't wait to take audiences around the world to Middle-earth' through the Amazon project.
- July 4, 2019
AceShowbiz - Filmmaker J.A. Bayona is stepping into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien to take charge of the first two episodes of "The Lord of the Rings" TV adaptation.
The "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" director will help to develop the show for bosses at streaming service Amazon, who have secured the backing of Tolkien estate executors for the multi-season project.
"J.R.R. Tolkien created one of the most extraordinary and inspiring stories of all time, and as a lifelong fan it is an honour and a joy to join this amazing team," reads a statement issued by Bayona, who will also executive produce the series.
"I can't wait to take audiences around the world to Middle-earth and have them discover the wonders of the Second Age, with a never before seen story."
The TV adaptation is set to feature new storylines set before Tolkien's "The Fellowship of the Ring", reports Deadline.
It won't be Bayona's first run at directing for the small screen - he shot two episodes of hit show "Penny Dreadful" in 2014.
Peter Jackson previously brought Tolkien's fantasy epics to life in two film series, starting with "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" in 2001, marking the launch of the movie franchise.
"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" followed in 2002 and 2003, respectively, before Jackson moved on to "The Hobbit" prequel trilogy, which began with 2012's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", and wrapped with "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" in 2014.
