Fox Searchlight has set a summer release date for “Tolkien,” the biopic on “The Lord of the Rings” author J.R.R. Tolkien.
The film starring Nicholas Hoult as the fantasy author will open on May 10, 2019.
Directed by Dome Karukoski, “Tolkien” explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school. This takes him into the outbreak of World War I, which threatens to tear the “Fellowship” apart. All of these experiences would inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-Earth novel.
The full cast has also been revealed, including Lily Collins, Colm Meaney, Anthony Boyle, Patrick Gibson, Tom Glynn-Carney, Craig Roberts, Laura Donnelly, Genevieve O’Reilly, Pam Ferris and Derek Jacobi.
David Gleeson and Stephen Beresford wrote the screenplay. Peter Chernin is producing on behalf of his Chernin Entertainment banner along with Jenno Topping, David Ready and Kris Thykier.
The project wrapped production back in December and Hoult joined the project back in July 2017. The Tolkien biopic will open opposite the family Pokemon movie “Detective Pikachu” and “The Hustle” with Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson.
Also on Fox Searchlight’s release slate for this year is “The Aftermath,” starring Keira Knightley, which is due out in March.