Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 07/25/22

A series of epic proportions. San Diego transformed into Middle-earth for a receptive audience at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday as Amazon Prime Video showcased its highly anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power TV show (based on the Christian-themed J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy book saga). 6,500 fans packed the convention center hall (many after camping overnight on the streets outside) to be part of the series’ Comic-Con debut. They were rewarded with the unveiling of an exclusive trailer, a sneak peek at several scenes from the series, as well as many other geek treats.

Among the surprises was the moment when host of Stephen Colbert (host of CBS’ The Late Show) was revealed as the series panel’s moderator. He joined Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay (who unveiled the trailer), Executive Producer Lindsey Weber and 21 members of the ensemble cast for a panel that was among the largest for a single-series in San Diego Comic-Con history. The participating cast members  included Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Maxim Baldry, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Trystan Gravelle, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, Leon Wadham, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman and Sara Zwangobani.

Other highlights :

• During the epic 90-minute event, the cast and creators interacted with fans in person for the very first time to discuss their mutual love of J.R.R. Tolkien’s incredible world and the creative process of bringing it to life as a TV show. Tolkien’s original trilogy was, of course, previously brought to movie screens in the early 2000s.
•  Emmy Award-winning composer Bear McCreary, who created the show’s episodic score, took to the stage with a 25-piece orchestra and 16-person choir to treat the audience to an exclusive live performance of highlights of the never-before-heard series soundtrack.
• The exclusive reveal of five scenes from the series.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world in multiple languages on Friday, September 2 with new episodes available weekly.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.