As Amazon Studios prepares to return to Middle-earth with its new “Lord of the Rings”series, Fox Searchlight sheds light on the man behind the fantasy epic, releasing a new trailer on Wednesday for its upcoming biopic of author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Nicholas Hoult plays the famed writer, while Lily Collins is cast as Edith Bratt, his lifelong love and future wife who served as inspiration for characters in his most famous books.
The film follows young Tolkien’s early life growing up in England after his father died in South Africa. He befriends a group of fellow outcasts at school and they form a brotherhood, “to change the world through the power of art.”
Young Tolkien, of course, wants to write something.
“Since I was a child, I have been fascinated by language, I invented my own … I made stories, legends,” John Tolkien later tells Edith.
Both Tolkien’s imagination and the boys’ fellowship are both put to the ultimate test with the outbreak of World War I as they are plunged into the horrors of the trenches.
While “Tolkien” focuses on the real-life of the famed story-teller, we do get some dramatic teasers of flame-breathing dragons in the new clip – so be prepared for a little taste of his famous fantasy world.
“Tolkien” also stars Tom Glynn-Carney, Anthony Boyle, Patrick Gibson, Colm Meaney and Craig Roberts, and is directed by Dome Karukoski.
Tolkien’s works have inspired seven major motion pictures, most notably from director Peter Jackson, whose “Lord of the Rings” trilogy grossed more than $2.9 billion at the box office worldwide and won 17 Oscars.
The film hits theaters on May 10.
Watch the trailer above.