Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Sets Writing and Producing Teams, Which Include Some ‘Game of Thrones’ Vets

TCA 2019: As previously announced, this fellowship is led by showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay

Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings” TV series has set its fellowship — er, creative and producing teams, for its adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, led by showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, the studio said during the Television Critics Association press tour Saturday.

Set in Middle-earth during the Second Age, the small-screen adaptation will explore new storylines preceding Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring.” Amazon Studios has a multi-season commitment for the show, and the deal also includes a potential spinoff series.

The team who will be creating the “LOTR” TV series includes: executive producers Lindsey Weber (“10 Cloverfield Lane”), Bruce Richmond (“Game of Thrones”), Gene Kelly (“Boardwalk Empire”) and Sharon Tal Yguado; writer/executive producer Gennifer Hutchison (“Breaking Bad”); writer/executive producer Jason Cahill (“The Sopranos”) writer/executive producer Justin Doble (“Stranger Things”); consulting producers Bryan Cogman (“Game of Thrones”) and Stephany Folsom (“Toy Story 4”); producer Ron Ames (“The Aviator”); writer/co-producer Helen Shang (“Hannibal”) and writing consultant Glenise Mullins.

Additionally, Prime has added costume designer Kate Hawley (“Suicide Squad”), production designer Rick Heinrichs (“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”), visual effects supervisor Jason Smith (“The Revenant”), Tolkien scholar Tom Shippey, and illustrator/concept artist John Howe.

That group joins Payne and McKay, as well as J.A. Bayona (“The Orphanage,” “Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom”), who Amazon previously revealed will direct the first two episodes and also serve as executive producer, alongside his partner Belén Atienza.

“This team is our Fellowship – assembled from around the world, all walking the road together to try and accomplish something far greater than any of us could on our own,” McKay and Payne said. “We feel humbled and extremely lucky to be surrounded by such inspiring and talented women and men.”

“As our journey into Middle-earth begins, we are in excellent hands with J.D. and Patrick at the helm, with this incredible team of talent that they’ve assembled,” Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said. “The depth and breadth of the experience of this writing and production team is truly awesome, with a real respect for and knowledge of Tolkien lore. We’re so happy to have them on board and to see this exciting series start to come to life.”

The new “LOTR” series is produced in cooperation with the Tolkein Estate and Trust, HarperCollins and New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment.

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