In the first trailer for the “Tolkien,” Nicholas Hoult portrays the “Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings” creator and describes a story of magic, love and courage.
“Tell me a story,” Lily Collins’s Edith Bratt, Tolkien’s wife, muse and the inspiration for his “Lord of the Rings” character Arwen Undómiel, says.
“It’s a story about journeys. The journeys we take to prove ourselves,” Hoult says. “It’s about inventions. It’s about potent magic. Magic beyond anything anyone has ever felt before. It’s about what it means to love and to be loved. It’s about courage. It’s about fellowship.”
The 55-second first look intercuts adolescent innocence with scenes of loss and war.
“Tolkien” was directed by Finnish filmmaker Dome Karukoski from a script by David Gleeson and Stephen Beresford.
The film explores the formative years of J.R.R. Tolkien, an orphan, 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 novels.
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.
“Tolkien” will hit theaters on May 10.