With the upcoming release ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Poweron Amazon Prime Video, it’s high time that eager viewers brush up on some of the lore that supports this exciting new series. Luckily, the folks behind the show itself have fans covered on that front, at least to an extent.
Amazon Prime has just released a short video detailing the Island Kingdom of Númenor, which is set to see its screen debut intheLord of the Ringsseries. Diehard fans of J.R.R. Tolkien are likely already familiar with the place and its history, but those who only sawPeter Jackson’s beloved film trilogymight not recognize the name. Well, it turns out this fantastical metropolis has a lot of stories to tell, and it’ll look good while doing it.
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The video, posted on Twitter by the officialLord of the Ringson Prime account, introduces Númenor with a sweeping shot of the city. This feels reminiscent of similarcaptivating shots seen in theLord of the Ringsmovie trilogy, which should be enough to catch the eyes of many fans. Cynthia Addai-Robinson, who plays Queen Regent Míriel, then describes the kingdom as “this island in the middle of the ocean; society at the height of its power.” Lloyd Owen (Elendil) then adds, “to be able to go back and find Númenor at its peak is extraordinary.”
Ema Horvath, the actress behind Eärien inThe Rings of Power, then offers a brief explanation of what sort of society calls Númenor home. “It’s a very nautical society,” she says. “There’s been a rejection of old Elvish magic and ways.” Trystan Gravelle (Pharazôn) continues from there, saying, “we see half the island wanting to cling on to the connection that they have with Elvish culture. The other half want to go their separate ways, but it’s at a tipping point.”
Númenor (which is pronounced with a rolling “r,” for those concerned with authenticity) is a significant part of theLord of the Ringslore and backstory, earning several mentions and references throughout the books and movies. Many will recall how Aragorn (played by Viggo Mortensen in the movies) is revealed to be a descendent of Númenor’s people, which explains his long lifespan. This makes sense, given its ties to the Elves.
IfThe Rings of Powerintends to follow the lore written out by Tolkien closely, then the kingdom is in for a rough go of it. From massive geographical shifts to thewar with Sauron himself, it seems pretty clear that Númenor will get plenty of screen time when the series finally premieres.
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerwill premiere on September 2nd, 2022, on Amazon Prime Video.
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