https://www.cbr.com Read up on the latest The Lord of the Rings franchise News, Reviews and Features from the team at CBR. Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:02:25 GMT en-US hourly 60 Publisher Private Division unveiled a trailer for developer Wētā Workshop's upcoming hobbit-centric The Lord of the Rings video game, Tales of the Shire.

]]> Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:02:25 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-tales-of-the-shire-trailer/ Ahsoka has reinvigorated the Star Wars franchise with an epic storyline featuring plenty of fan-favorite characters and jaw-dropping reveals. The eight-episode Disney+ series features the former Jedi Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) as she struggles to keep the galaxy safe from the looming threat of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) and his acolytes. However, Ahsoka also has to come to terms with her own history, reconciling with the past in order to help train the next generation of Jedi, which includes her own Padawan, Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo).

]]> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 20:15:21 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-star-wars-gandalf-the-white/ The Lord of the Rings is one of the most influential pieces of writing to date. Thanks to J.R.R. Tolkien's meticulous world crafting and storytelling, LOTR has gone on to reshape the fantasy genre and inspire authors today. However, the influence of Tolkien's work has a history of extending beyond the literary world.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 19:40:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-led-zeppelin-inspiration/ In J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Frodo and his Hobbit companions experienced a couple of dramatic adventures before even arriving at the Prancing Pony. Then, after one of the Nazgûl stabbed Frodo, the Elf-lord Glorfindel brought Frodo to Rivendell. In director Peter Jackson's adaptation, there were no adventures before the Prancing Pony (beyond a close encounter with a Black Rider), and Arwen took Frodo to the House of Elrond. After that, however, they formed the Fellowship of the Ring, and most of Tolkien and Jackson's work synced perfectly.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 17:30:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-rings-fellowship-member-ages-explained/ Warner Bros. Discovery head David Zaslav insists the top franchises at the studio, including Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, are not used to their full potential by the studio.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:49:51 GMT https://www.cbr.com/warner-bros-ceo-believes-harry-potter-lord-of-the-rings-franchises-are-underused/ As actor Ian McKellen looks back on some of his most iconic roles, he wonders if some actors who were offered the part of Gandalf in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy didn't regret turning the role down.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 08:13:38 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-ian-mckellen-actors-feel-silly/ The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth is a new mobile strategy role-playing game by EA and Capital Games, much like Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, where players can collect various characters from The Lord of the Rings universe and experience exciting stories, both told and untold, from Tolkien's novels. A large part of Heroes of Middle-earth's storytelling revolves around the question of "what if?" by presenting players with an opportunity to play through alternative storylines with their favorite LotR characters.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:50:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lotr-heroes-of-middle-earth-haradrim-interview/ In The Lord of the Rings, the great Elven city of Gondolin was one of Tolkien’s most spectacular additions to the mythos of Middle-earth. It was known for many things during its reign in the First Age of Middle-earth. First and foremost, it was known for the secrecy of its location. Only a few outside the city itself knew of its location or how even to find it, which is why Morgoth both feared the Elves of Gondolin and sought to destroy it.

]]> Tue, 05 Sep 2023 23:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lotr-gates-of-gondolin-explained/ In The Lord of the Rings, Middle-earth is no stranger to enormous creatures. From the Balrog of Moria to Shelob in Mordor, Tokien's world is filled with oversized monstrosities that terrorize those unfortunate enough to cross their paths. One such creature was the dragon Smaug, who claimed Erebor and all of its gold from the Dwarves with relative ease. Despite Smaug's gargantuan size, the dragon was nowhere near the largest creature ever to roam Middle-earth, as another member of his species takes that trophy by a landslide.

]]> Tue, 05 Sep 2023 21:00:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-rings-biggest-creature-ancalagon-not-smaug/ In the Season 1 finale of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, it was definitively revealed that Halbrand was the Dark Lord Sauron. This revelation was shocking to some fans and not surprising to others given how The Rings of Power hinted at Halbrand's identity throughout the season. Given the fact that the show pulled a red herring with the Stranger, it's not surprising that fans are suspicious of Sauron's true identity.

]]> Tue, 05 Sep 2023 10:45:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/rings-of-power-theory-halbrand-not-sauron/ With each passing day, the gaming industry witnesses remarkable expansion. Forecasts for 2023 suggest that the gaming market's revenue might soar to a staggering $187.7 billion, as highlighted by Newzoo, a leading authority in digital game analytics. For enthusiasts and observers alike, the captivating interplay between literature and video games emerges as a significant trend, crafting a mosaic of rich narratives and immersive experiences. Indeed, many of the most popular games of the last decade drew inspiration, or even direct adaptation, from equally successful pieces of fiction. But how did this union form, from words on a page to controllable graphics on a screen, and why do some books translate so well to video games?

]]> Mon, 04 Sep 2023 21:15:19 GMT https://www.cbr.com/books-inspiring-video-games-history/ Frodo's overarching journey across the course of The Lord of the Rings revolves around carrying the One Ring to Mount Doom and ensuring its destruction, which would finally eradicate the evil of Sauron once and for all. The burden is a crushing one, as the malice within the One Ring eats away at Frodo over the course of the trilogy. Making matters worse is Gollum, who had possessed the Ring for centuries and served as a guide to the heroes — and a constant reminder of Frodo's challenge.

]]> Tue, 29 Aug 2023 21:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/frodo-gollum-form-cut-scene-lord-of-the-rings/ There is no shortage of heroes in The Lord of the Rings. From the bravery of Frodo Baggins to the leadership of Aragorn, the Fellowship of the Ring consisted of those who would typically be associated with words such as "brave" and "strong." Each member of the Fellowship brought a special quality with them that would be beneficial in the long journey to Mordor, qualities that would undoubtedly lend to each member being considered a hero in their own right.

]]> Tue, 29 Aug 2023 14:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/merry-pippin-lord-of-the-rings-heroes-tooks/ Legolas and Gimli are two of the most iconic characters from The Lord of the Rings thanks to their charisma, epic battle scenes and friendly banter, including the wholesome kill count at Helm's Deep and Minas Tirith. Their relationship evolves from the standpoint of hatred to an earnest friendship by the end of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Ring.

]]> Sun, 27 Aug 2023 22:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lotr-legolas-gimli-relationship/ Perhaps unfortunately for Ahsoka Tano, but the characters Star Wars fans are most concerned about in her first two episodes aren't even there. Writer and director Dave Filoni knew this going in, so every character in the series premiere is concerned about Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger, too. Filoni is also a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, so Morgan Elsbeth's Eye of Sion ship is very likely a reference to the Eye of Sauron.

]]> Fri, 25 Aug 2023 14:45:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ahsoka-villain-eye-of-sion-ship-tolkien-reference/ The Lord of the Rings trilogy is such a massive epic that there were inevitably going to be some serious cuts to the original text in any adaptation of it. This includes Peter Jackson's filmed trilogy, which, among other elements, completely exorcised the character of Tom Bombadil and the effect he had on the story.

]]> Thu, 24 Aug 2023 15:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/tom-bombadil-witch-king-lord-of-the-rings-theory/ It's no secret that J.R.R. Tolkien had an unabashed love for nature. From the golden trees in Lothlórien to the rolling hills of the Shire, Tolkien injects his appreciation for the beauty of nature throughout Middle-earth. It's no surprise that the heroes of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are Hobbits, a race of creatures that live in harmony with nature and give back to the earth as much as they take.

]]> Sat, 19 Aug 2023 20:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-saruman-industrialism-metaphor/ The Lord of the Rings is already proving precious to Embracer Group, with the video game and media holding company announcing 70% business growth following its acquisition of the fantasy franchise's rights.

]]> Thu, 17 Aug 2023 08:52:39 GMT https://www.cbr.com/embracer-group-lord-of-the-rings-profit-growth/ There seems something uniquely suitable about the combination of Dungeons & Dragons and The Lord of the Rings. Whether it's the well-documented inspiration Gygax et al took from Tolkien's works or merely their shared fantasy genre, this is a match made in heaven. One of the most obvious ways to do this as a Dungeon Master is to incorporate elements of the storytelling, lore, imagery, or even setting into a D&D campaign. But for players, the most obvious place to use LotR inspiration is character creation.

]]> Tue, 15 Aug 2023 15:24:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dnd-lotr-character-builds/ Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin is famed for killing off his characters in an unexpected and spectacular fashion. While it's always difficult to see a beloved character be taken out of the story for good, it makes the stakes feel much higher. Martin clearly has a strict view on how death should be treated in fiction, as he's even criticized The Lord of the Rings' treatment of the concept while raising some fair points.

]]> Mon, 14 Aug 2023 18:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/george-rr-martin-dislikes-gandalf-lotr-resurrection/ Frodo Baggins' journey in The Lord of the Rings is undoubtedly heroic. Taking up the mantle to carry the One Ring, the very weapon that could change the tide of war, and ensure its destruction is no small task. However, according to Joseph Cambell, the author who coined the story structure of a hero's journey, it's Frodo's own heroic quest that prevents him from having a typical hero's journey. The hero's journey is typically made up of twelve steps broken into three acts. The call to adventure, crossing the threshold and the ordeal are a few steps in a standard hero's journey. However, the One Ring uproots Frodo's journey with its very existence.

]]> Sun, 13 Aug 2023 12:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-frodo-heros-journey-failed-ring-power/ Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King features a climactic battle outside the Black Gate of Mordor. It's intended by Aragorn and his allies to draw the gaze of the all-seeing Eye of Sauron and allow Frodo and Sam to reach Mount Doom unnoticed. During the confrontation, Aragorn originally faced Sauron himself; much of the footage was even filmed. However, Jackson ultimately decided to remove the sequence.

]]> Sun, 13 Aug 2023 11:01:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/aragorn-fighting-sauron-fighting-cut-lord-of-the-rings/ Frodo Baggins is one of the most powerless beings in the entirety of Middle-earth, yet he's also the one who carries the heaviest burden and the most essential object in The Lord of the Rings: the One Ring. Frodo's lack of classic heroism makes him the perfect master to harness the power of the Ring and destroy it without succumbing entirely to its dominance.

]]> Sat, 12 Aug 2023 16:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lotr-frodo-ring-bearer/ With the masterfully detailed novels by J.R.R. Tolkien as an invaluable resource to build on, The Lord of the Rings movies provided viewers with a cast of scintillating characters that brought the story of Middle-earth to life. Among them, Aragorn, played by Viggo Mortensen, delivered memorable lines in various scenes.

]]> Thu, 10 Aug 2023 10:31:27 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-aragorn-quotes-lord-of-the-rings/ The Lord of the Rings trilogy is memorable in its depth and detail, providing insightful quotes from main characters like Frodo. Over the course of three engaging movies, audiences are able to see the stellar work of the author J. R. R. Tolkien come to life while following the journey to Mordor to destroy the Ring which Frodo carries.

]]> Wed, 09 Aug 2023 20:30:23 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-frodo-quotes-lord-of-the-rings/ The Lord of the Rings took fantasy movies to another level, which was an absolute necessity considering the sheer detail and brilliance of the original books written by J. R. R. Tolkien. On a quest to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, Frodo takes the uncertain journey, hoping to restore peace to Middle-earth.

]]> Wed, 09 Aug 2023 10:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/fellowship-members-ring-carrying-ability-ranked-lord-of-the-rings/ For better and worse, most webcomics are time capsules of the 2000s and 2010s. If the webcomic in question wasn't overly reliant on pop culture references and video game culture, it was most probably an edgy soapbox for its creators. Webcomics that were massive hits just a few years ago aged poorly by today's standards and sensibilities.

]]> Tue, 08 Aug 2023 20:00:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/webcomics-aged-poorly/ Lego games are many things: they're creative, engaging, and are an absolute thrill to play cooperatively. But above all, Lego games are funny. From the very beginning, Lego has made a concerted effort to make humor a key part of its video games.

]]> Tue, 08 Aug 2023 13:01:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lego-games-funniest-ranked/ Catchphrases are often associated with sketch shows and sitcoms, but there are a number of movies that have incorporated repeated lines, making them memorable for audiences. They can be symbolic of a character's personality, often showing their sense of humor or even their strength.

]]> Tue, 08 Aug 2023 12:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/10-best-movie-catchphrases/ Gimli, son of Glóin, doesn't get much time in the spotlight in The Lord of the Rings films. Although his antics with Legolas are fondly remembered as a highlight of the trilogy, Gimli's history is mostly ignored. There's only one real moment in The Fellowship of the Ring that touches upon Gimli's past: when he enters the Mines of Moria in hopes of seeing his cousin, Balin, who was once Lord of Moria.

]]> Tue, 08 Aug 2023 11:01:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-rings-gimli-balin-connection-with-moria-explained/ The Lord of the Rings isn't known for its comedy, but there are still a number of quotes that get audiences laughing. Based on the novels by J.R.R Tolkien, the trilogy is rife with action, battle scenes, and captivating characters, bringing a new world to viewers.

]]> Tue, 08 Aug 2023 10:30:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/funniest-quotes-lord-of-the-rings-movies/ Villains can be a vital part of a movie, often relying on the actor to evoke emotions in an audience that stem from fear to create an iconic role. While an audience will root for the hero, a villain is just as intriguing to watch, especially if viewers can't predict their next unnerving move.

]]> Tue, 08 Aug 2023 00:30:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/iconic-movie-villains-another-actor-could-never-play/ Considered by many to be the best trilogy in history, The Lord of the Rings has captivated both readers and viewers for decades. That’s not a surprise, given the iconic characters and the universal themes that J.R.R. Tolkien incorporated. Peter Jackson then successfully built upon that foundation by perfectly encapsulating the spirit of Tolkien’s work with his film adaptations, even if they snubbed some characters. Long story short, between the books and the films, The Lord of the Rings fandom is filled with many long-time and diehard fans.

]]> Mon, 07 Aug 2023 11:01:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/why-ruling-ring-true-lord-of-rings-not-sauron/ Prime Video France will offer The Hunger Games, The Lord of the Rings, and more to local subscribers.

]]> Thu, 03 Aug 2023 17:48:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/hunger-games-lord-of-the-rings-franchises-prime-video-france/ In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers film, Frodo recalls Gollum's given name "Sméagol" and how his life is "a sad story." Frodo also mentions how Gollum was one of "the river folk" and "not so very different from a Hobbit once," but that's about as far as director Peter Jackson takes Gollum's prior history. At least, when it comes to specifics. The Return of the King opens with a scene between Sméagol and his cousin Déagol that explains how Gollum got the Ring, and it's full of visual cues about the life Sméagol led prior to his entanglement with the One Ring.

]]> Mon, 31 Jul 2023 12:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/gollum-stoor-hobbit-explained-lord-of-the-rings/ The journey of Frodo Baggins throughout The Lord of the Rings is easily one of the most memorable and epic fantasy stories to date. From the moment the Hobbit leaves the Shire accompanied by his three friends to the formation of the Fellowship and up to the breaking of said Fellowship by the end of The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo has had to endure a number of dangerous and stressful situations to fulfill his duties.

]]> Fri, 28 Jul 2023 17:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-frodo-tragic-hero/ The Lord of the Rings universe is teeming with fascinating characters, each with a unique background and purpose that drives them forward. Their adventure-filled backstories all serve to make them who they are, and that is precisely why they belong in the world of video games — so players can be part of shaping those stories.

]]> Mon, 24 Jul 2023 00:15:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lotr-characters-need-own-game/ What makes a video game enemy truly memorable and worth fighting isn't just their backstory or design, but their Artificial Intelligence (AI). Whether it's a generic foot soldier or a powerful boss, video game enemies need an AI that's at the very least challenging. These enemies, on the other hand, have AI that can be downright unfair.

]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:00:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/tought-ai-video-game-bosses/ Daedalic Entertainment's action-adventure title The Lord of the Rings: Gollum was meant to give players an opportunity to experience one of J.R.R. Tolkien's most iconic characters from The Lord of the Rings during the time period between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Unfortunately, the Lord of the Rings adventure has painfully gone down as one of the worst video games of 2023 for an overwhelming number of reasons.

]]> Wed, 19 Jul 2023 14:50:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lotr-gollum-game-failed-future/ Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy has long been regarded as one of the greatest in cinematic history. One thing that made it so well-received is how perfectly it was cast. From Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn to Cate Blanchett's Galadriel, everyone fits into their role seamlessly. It's an impressive feat and has certainly contributed to how loved the films are today.

]]> Wed, 19 Jul 2023 13:00:12 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-eowyn-uma-thurman-casting/ The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power featured the return of Middle Earth's memorable races: elves, dwarves, men, orcs and even the wizards in the form of the Stranger as an Istar. The Hobbits make their return as well, but not in the way audiences remember them from The Lord of the Rings. There are no familiar Hobbit holes, six daily meals or well-tailored colorful clothing to be seen with the Halflings.

]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2023 10:45:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lotr-rings-of-power-harfoots-hobbits/ Deleted scenes bring tons of value, especially for fans of their original content. The clips give meaningful insight into how a film could have gone. In many cases, deleted scenes even enhance the movie's characters and storylines, as seen with the Petunia Dursley clip from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 12:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/deleted-movie-scenes-better-cut-reddit/ While Sauron's most notable form in The Lord of the Rings was the Great Eye that hovered over Barad-dûr, his most noteworthy appearance came during the dramatic introduction to The Fellowship of the Ring. The intro depicted the War of the Last Alliance as Men and Elves warred with Sauron's forces on the planes of Mordor. When defeat seemed imminent, Sauron emerged from his tower to do battle, wearing a terrifying set of armor. Wielding a great mace, he was indomitable, until he met his match in Elendil the Tall and the High Elven King Gil-galad. Together, they cast the Dark Lord down and -- at least temporarily -- ended his reign of terror.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 11:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-rings-what-sauron-really-looks-like/ When J.R.R. Tolkien originally wrote The Lord of the Rings, he conceived it as one enormous epic. After World War II, there was a huge shortage of paper, and the author's publisher Allen & Unwin was unwilling to commit to producing thousands of copies of a book that length due to the prohibitive costs of the materials required. As a result, it decided to divide the work into three separate releases in order to mitigate its expenditure.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 15:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/what-are-two-towers-lord-of-the-rings/ The early parts of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring are dominated by the pursuit of the Hobbits by Sauron's Black Riders after Frodo comes into possession of the One Ring. Their journey toward Rivendell is repeatedly marred by their presence, and the ring-bearer nearly loses his life as a result of being stabbed by a Morgul-blade. Though the discovery of the Ring's location and the Ringwraith's subsequent journey to collect it is condensed in the movies, it's much longer-winded in the original texts.

]]> Fri, 07 Jul 2023 13:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/sauron-unknown-shire-location-explained-lord-of-the-rings/ The Lord of the Rings is the granddaddy of the fantasy genre, and its big-screen debut heralded pop culture's current obsession with high-quality adaptations. LOTR was a rare success in that it got people to actually read the books, something that few franchises can currently pull off. The movies and books both worked so well because of the characters therein, bringing the story to life.

]]> Fri, 07 Jul 2023 12:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-characters-deserved-better/ As a world-leading scholar during his life, J.R.R. Tolkien's works feature influences from mythology and ancient legends throughout. Aside from The Lord of the Rings' more obvious allegories like resurrection, the author's wider writings in works like The Silmarillion lean even more heavily on older tales from a variety of different cultures.

]]> Fri, 07 Jul 2023 10:45:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-beleriand-numenor-explained/ The Elves in The Lord of the Rings have always been revered for their ethereal grace, stunning homes and wicked skills with a bow. Legolas displayed all of these, however, his incredible eyesight was often overlooked as just a physical ability. This ability was also a spiritual one because Legolas could see dead people.

]]> Thu, 06 Jul 2023 15:00:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/legolas-elves-see-spirits-lord-of-the-rings/ Fantasy stories have been around for centuries, finding popularity in books before gracing the big screen. Creating entire universes and building new worlds is no easy feat, leaving only the most talented of writers to attempt writing the next big story. The first fantasy movie dates back to Alice Guy's The Cabbage Fairy, filmed in 1896, but the fantasy movie genre didn't become prominent until after the 1950s.

]]> Thu, 06 Jul 2023 14:30:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-fantasy-movies-2000s/ Magic: the Gathering's newest Universes Beyond card set, Tales of Middle-earth, features countless cards that bring J.R.R. Tolkien's famed The Lord of the Rings novels to life in true style. This is one of MtG's best Universes Beyond projects yet, elegantly blending authentic LotR lore and characters with powerful, fun, and flavorful card designs of all kinds.

]]> Wed, 05 Jul 2023 18:11:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-lotr-tales-of-middle-earth-disappointing-cards/ In recent years, The Lord of the Rings has garnered criticism for its lack of female characters, even being mocked on some online platforms. One fan video, in particular, strung together every scene where female characters in Peter Jackson's trilogy actually interact, and it boils down to one scene. It's mostly a joke, but there's some truth to it. With such stately female leads like Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), Arwen (Liv Tyler), and Éowyn (Miranda Otto) it's surprising they're not utilized more, especially when Jackson made some sweeping changes to the source material without batting an eye.

]]> Wed, 05 Jul 2023 13:00:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-arwen-helms-deep-deleted-scene/ Open-world games are a significant presence in modern-day gaming. Open-world design can be found across genres, encompassing everything from first-person shooters to action-adventure games to roleplaying games. There are many acclaimed and beloved open-world games that win praise for their immersive, satisfying worlds and for their level of content.

]]> Mon, 03 Jul 2023 17:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/open-world-games-quickly-feel-empty/ The Lord of the Rings remains at the very top of the fantasy genre, even two decades after the original trilogy came to an end with 2003's Return of the King. Many other fantasy franchises have attempted to replicate the LOTR trilogy's immense success, but none have ever become quite as popular.

]]> Sun, 02 Jul 2023 22:30:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lotr-trilogy-other-fantasy-franchises-miss/ The Lord of the Rings has no shortage of evil locations. Utumno was Morgoth's fortress before the First Age, and there, he conjured and perverted all kinds of evil creations. During the Wars of Beleriand, Morgoth operated out of a different evil fortress. It was called Angband, and it was built underneath three volcanic mountains. Similarly, Sauron's evil fortress was called Barad-dûr, and just like Angband, it was built in conjunction with a volcano.

]]> Sat, 01 Jul 2023 12:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-paths-of-the-dead-explained/ Captain America: Brave New World star Anthony Mackie slams the Harry Potter film franchise for its lack of casting diversity, lamenting the absence of Black actors throughout the acclaimed fantasy movie series.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 21:53:44 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mcu-anthony-mackie-calls-out-harry-potter-diversity-problem/ In The Lord of the Rings, much is made of the different ages that make up the history of Middle-earth. The events of the main series up to the conclusion of Return of the King happen at the very end of the Third Age, while the Last Alliance of Men and Elves brings the Second Age to a thunderous close (as depicted at the start of The Fellowship of the Ring.) The Silmarillion novel details the devastating war between the forces of good and Morgoth, the most terrible of the Valar.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 15:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/what-came-before-middle-earth-first-age-lord-of-the-rings/ Fans of The Lord of the Rings watching Amazon's Rings of Power know the huge part Isildur will play in the fate of Middle-earth. Audience members not as familiar with the books know him from the prologue in director Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring. The misguided son of the king who defeats the Dark Lord Sauron and who, when given the chance to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, claims it for himself. He's not exactly known for his stellar moral decisions, even in events prior to the War of the Ring. Author J.R.R. Tolkien outlined much of Isildur's history in supplemental materials he wrote for his epic saga.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 14:45:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/isildur-character-development-suffer-rings-of-power/ In The Lord of the Rings, several dark and mysterious corners of the world take the story outside of the relatively linear conflict happening between the free peoples of Middle-earth and the forces of Sauron. The Dead Men of Dunharrow and the journey Aragorn takes to hold them to their oaths is the most obvious example, but it wasn't the first time members of the Fellowship had encountered ghosts. While journeying to Mordor, Frodo, Sam and Gollum have a desperately difficult journey through an area known as The Dead Marshes, with the former almost losing his life as he attempts to travel through.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:01:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/who-are-dead-dead-marshes-lord-of-the-rings/ Daedalic Entertainment took a serious risk when it decided to focus a game solely on one of Tolkein's most complex characters. The main series explored the effect that a small being could have on the world compared to legendary and powerful figures, as well as how evil can corrupt anyone. No character in Lord of the Rings shows both of these concepts to the same degree as Smeagol or, as he is better known, Gollum. The developers wanted players to feel a connection to the character, but they explored the wrong period in Gollum's life.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 16:30:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lotr-gollum-game-least-interesting-time-period/ Of the many races and stories within Tolkien's Legendarium, the Dwarves are arguably the ones who take a bit of a backseat in the narrative of The Lord of the Rings. The time of the Elves is coming to an end, and their departure from Middle-earth is critical to the ensuing struggle between Men and Orcs to find the premier successor once they have gone. Hobbits remain an extraordinary part of the story, but Dwarves (outside of Gimli) take a backseat in the descriptions of the War of the Ring. They fought bravely at the Battle of Dale and other critical skirmishes in the North, but they remain the least described throughout the three books. In the author's broader writings, though, the Dwarves have a long and storied history starting far before their starring role in The Hobbit.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 12:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dwarves-middle-earth-history-explained-lord-of-the-rings/ Embracer Group bought the rights to both Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 18:14:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-rights-sell-less-500-million/ As The Lord of the Rings' Fellowship assembled and began traveling toward Mordor, Sauron was preparing for war. The Dark Lord didn't expect subterfuge. He expected Gandalf and company to take the One Ring to Gondor so that Aragorn could wield it against him. So, he mustered all of his armies and got ready to fight. Of course, Sauron was wrong because Frodo took the Ring and secretly snuck across the Anduin River. But even with his miscalculation, war was afoot in Middle-earth.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 17:00:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-beorn-sauron-fight/ The Lord of the Rings' Fellowship was a doomed cause from the very beginning. Gandalf and Elrond assembled a group of nine walkers to parallel the nine Nazgûl, and it was a worthy idea. But there was no way that the Fellowship was going to succeed as a group. There were simply too many trials and enemies on the way to Mordor. Besides, it wasn't like all nine of them were going to waltz up to Mount Doom without Sauron noticing their approach.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 10:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-fellowship-of-the-ring-original-ending-orc-frodo-encounter/ Magic: The Gathering's latest Universes Beyond product is The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, and the appeal goes beyond the flavorful Tolkien flair. This product also features plenty of valuable cards for collectors and competitive players, starting with the famous The One Ring artifact card. Tales of Middle-earth's four Commander decks are adding even more value.

]]> Sun, 18 Jun 2023 15:50:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-lotr-commander-deck-values/ The X-Men have been handling all sorts of threats in the build-up to Fall of X. As their technological enemies in Orchis utilize both mundane and supernatural means of confronting the mutant nation, the X-Men and their allies have had to try and counter this any way they can. However, a new mystical complication could become a corrupting force that compromises the entire Marvel Universe.

]]> Sat, 17 Jun 2023 16:10:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/x-men-villain-lord-of-the-rings-weapon-marvel/ Warning: Spoilers for The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Hell's Paradise

]]> Sat, 17 Jun 2023 15:30:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/hells-paradise-lotr-female-representation-matters/ Magic: The Gathering is a fantasy trading card game that is always welcoming new players, and products such as Jump-Start boosters and starter decks are a fine entry point. To bring in LotR fans, the game is releasing the incredible Tales of Middle-earth set, but this set may actually appeal more to enfranchised MTG players than curious newcomers.

]]> Sat, 17 Jun 2023 14:10:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/tales-of-middle-earth-bad-for-beginners/ The latest entry in the Magic: The Gathering Universes Beyond imprint is pulling from some of the fantasy genre's most influential characters -- and it's doing so with some truly stunning art. Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth features new versions of Frodo, Gandalf, Aragorn, and the rest of Middle-Earth's heroes and villains to MtG players, with over a hundred cards adapting the classic setting to the modern trading card game. Each piece comes with a beautiful new imagining of Middle-Earth's setting and story, breathing new life into the characters from a modern and diverse perspective.

]]> Thu, 15 Jun 2023 22:16:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/sgf-magic-the-gathering-lord-of-the-rings/ The finale of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy, The Battle of the Five Armies, wraps up Bilbo Baggins' epic journey across Middle-earth and sets the stage for The Lord of the Rings. But who exactly are the five armies? Between author J.R.R. Tolkien's novel and Jackson's films, the answer isn't so simple.

]]> Thu, 15 Jun 2023 00:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-hobbit-five-armies-explained/ The Lord of the Rings franchise is so deeply ingrained in pop culture that even the most casual of nerds can rattle off some amount of trivia on the subject. This massive popularity makes it ripe for video game adaptations. But the latest game to adapt Tolkien's work, Lord of the Rings: Gollum, has not been nearly as successful as previous LotR hits like Battle for Middle Earth or Lord of the Rings: Conquest.

]]> Wed, 14 Jun 2023 18:40:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/gollum-disappointing-shadow-of-mordor-lotr/ Although it's been a controversial decision, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power hasn't stopped filming Season 2 amid the ongoing writers' strike. Along with production, marketing has also been moving full-steam ahead. Actors, producers and even the series' composer have all been doing interviews promoting the upcoming season. Of particular note was an interview with Morfydd Clark, where she hinted that Glorfindel might be one of the new characters coming in Season 2.

]]> Wed, 14 Jun 2023 17:45:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-rings-of-power-season2-warlike-gil-galad-elrond/ The newly rebranded Max streaming service includes much of what its predecessor, HBO Max, had to offer. In addition to new content, the relaunched streaming platform now also includes more films in crisp 4k resolution, allowing audiences to experience these movies in a whole new light.

]]> Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:45:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/10-best-4k-movies-to-watch-on-max/ As one of The Lord of the Rings' Istari, Gandalf was tasked with rallying the free peoples of Middle-earth against the evils of Sauron. But there was a catch. Because of the damage done during the War of Wrath, the Valar had barred Gandalf, Saruman and the other wizards from using their full Maiaric powers. However, Gandalf made an exception when he fought the Balrog known as Durin's Bane.

]]> Tue, 13 Jun 2023 13:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-movies-gandalf-nazgul-fight-never-explained/ Dwarves in Middle-earth have a reputation for being greedy, self-centered and caring only for wealth. Because of that, many assume their absence from The Lord of the Rings means they refused to help defeat Sauron. However, that is far from the truth, as the Dwarven kingdoms were busy fighting one of the largest battles of the entire War of the Ring, leaving only Gimli to aid the race of Men. So, where were the Dwarves in The Lord of the Rings?

]]> Mon, 12 Jun 2023 18:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/where-dwarves-lord-of-rings/ Tolkien designed The Lord of the Rings' Elves to be regal, stoic and strong, which made sense because they were immortal, otherworldly beings. Luckily, Peter Jackson's adaptation did a great job of portraying those qualities. Hugo Weaving's Elrond was one example. Elrond had lived for thousands of years, and he showed off his hard-earned wisdom as he spearheaded the Council of Elrond. Yet Cate Blanchett's Galadriel was an even better example of Elven majesty and strength. She was a regal queen, but she was also an extremely powerful being.

]]> Mon, 12 Jun 2023 10:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/why-galadriel-one-ring-refusal-difficult-lord-of-the-rings/ During Lord of the Rings' Council of Elrond, it was decided that Frodo would take Sauron's Ring to Mordor and destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom. Everyone in attendance knew that the task would be nearly impossible. To better their odds of success, Elrond and Gandalf greenlit a company of travelers to accompany and protect Frodo. In all, there were nine members of the Fellowship, and together, they represented each of Middle-earth's main races: Elves, Dwarves, Men and Hobbits.

]]> Mon, 12 Jun 2023 02:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-gimli-dwarves-strong/ Power-scaling in The Lord of the Rings can be kind of difficult. Obviously, Sauron was the most powerful being in Middle-earth, and Gandalf the White claimed to be the second most powerful. But after that, things start to get complicated. How would a fully-powered Saruman fare against Gandalf the White? How powerful would Galadriel be if she was pitted against a Maiar? For that matter, how powerful were the Nazgûl? In the movies, the Witch-king broke Gandalf's staff, but in the books, his greatest power was inciting fear. Unfortunately, a lot of those questions don't have answers.

]]> Sun, 11 Jun 2023 15:00:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-tom-bombadil-almost-fought-nazgul/ Director Peter Jackson has a long history of including himself in his films, and his adaptations of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are no exception. Each of his six movies set in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth features one brief appearance from the fun-loving New Zealand director. Most of these cameos last for only a split-second, but a couple of his characters actually contribute to the plot, even if only in a small way.

]]> Sat, 10 Jun 2023 18:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/peter-jackson-cameos-lord-of-rings-hobbit/ During The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, it's revealed Gandalf did not fall to his death but instead battled with the Balrog to his last breath. With his victory, Gandalf the Grey passed from Middle-earth and returned even more powerful as Gandalf the White. Yet, who exactly had Gandalf come back to the mortal realm, and why did they do it?

]]> Sat, 10 Jun 2023 11:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/gandalf-resurrection-explained-lord-of-rings/ Magic: The Gathering players love top-down sets like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, where flavor and fun come first, but even sets like this one can pack serious power with cards that any competitive deck can use. A notable example is Orcish Bowmasters, a cheap black Orc creature card that's quickly becoming a breakout star.

]]> Wed, 07 Jun 2023 22:15:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-lotr-tales-of-middle-earth-orcish-bowmasters-modern/ Magic: The Gathering's latest Universes Beyond set is The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, which brings countless legendary characters and creatures to life as MTG cards -- including the fearsome giant spider, Shelob. Tales of Middle-earth is working wonders for underrated or developing tribes like Orcs and Treefolk, and now even MTG's fledgling Spider tribe is getting an enormous boost with Shelob, Child of Ungoliant.

]]> Wed, 07 Jun 2023 21:15:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-lotr-tales-of-middle-earth-shelob-spider-tribe/ Magic: The Gathering players are warned to be wary of where they open their The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth collector boosters.

]]> Wed, 07 Jun 2023 18:33:54 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-lord-of-the-rings-booster-one-ring-valuable/ The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth is the latest instalment in Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond series. This exciting crossover set is a great way to bring in LotR fans and turn them into casual MTG players as well. Tales of Middle-earth directly adapts the original LotR books rather than the movies, so the set features tons of content not seen in Peter Jackson's trilogy -- including the Shire's unexpected fate at the end of Return of the King.

]]> Mon, 05 Jun 2023 15:16:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-lotr-tales-of-middle-earth-field-of-ruin-reprint/ The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth is an upcoming Magic: The Gathering Universes Beyond set that encapsulates Tolkein's entire legendary fantasy saga in a single product -- beginning, middle and end. Most cards from Tales of Middle-earth depict the chaos of war, like MTG's newly resurgent Orc tribe, but a few cards from the set show LotR's happy ending too.

]]> Mon, 05 Jun 2023 11:46:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-lotr-tales-of-middle-earth-samwise-rosie-cotton/ The Lord of the Rings ended on a fairly happy note. With Sauron and most of his minions defeated, the free peoples of Middle-earth were free to live their lives as they saw fit. Aragorn married Arwen and was crowned King of Gondor. Gimli became the Lord of the Glittering Caves, and he spent a lot of time with his good friend, Legolas. Meanwhile, the Hobbits went back to the shire and (after expelling Saruman) settled back into their old lives.

]]> Mon, 05 Jun 2023 10:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-valinor-mortals-die/ The Lord of the Rings is filled with great characters and great character development, which was shown in several ways. For example, Merry and Pippin became very brave. In The Fellowship of the Rings, they were afraid of being caught by Farmer Maggot, but by the end of the trilogy, they were fighting battles and helping defeat a Nazgûl. Meanwhile, Sam's journey allowed him to grow, including building up enough courage to ask Rosie Cotton to marry him.

]]> Sun, 04 Jun 2023 22:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-legolas-bow-explained/ Even though The Rings of Power Season 2 is still in the distant future, the series' cast and crew have been busy. They've been having plenty of discussions about the successes of Season 1 and the coming grandeur of Season 2. In interviews with CBR, Peter Mullins talked about the emotional truth involved in playing Durin III, while Owain Arthur and Sophia Nomvete talked about finding their Dwarven characters and their favorite scenes. Even composer Bear McCreary talked about bringing his musical magic to Middle-earth.

]]> Sun, 04 Jun 2023 15:46:12 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-rings-of-power-season2-theory-glorfindel/ Besides Frodo and Gandalf, Aragorn might have been the most important character in The Lord of the Rings. Without him, Frodo and the other Hobbits wouldn't have made it to Rivendell, and after Gandalf fell in Moria, the Fellowship would have been lost without Aragorn's leadership. There were many other instances of Aragorn's bravery and heroism, but it culminated in The Return of the King when Aragorn marched on the Black Gate with a severely depleted army.

]]> Fri, 02 Jun 2023 15:00:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-aragorn-prancing-pony-different-books/ The Lord the Rings: Gollum has broken a mostly consistent win streak for major Lord of the Rings game releases, with its consistent game-breaking bugs, lackluster animation and poor mechanics being the main source of players' complaints. Indeed, developers of Gollum issued a formal response on Twitter just one day after the game's official release, apologizing to players for the disappointing gameplay and its unintentionally distasteful reflection of The Lord of the Rings fan base. While the developers have promised potential patches and bug fixes in the future, many have been left doubting if Gollum is even worth saving.

]]> Thu, 01 Jun 2023 20:15:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-gollum-lotr-good-future-games/ Tales of Middle-Earth is Magic: The Gathering's latest Universes Beyond expansion set, and it's filled with fan-favorite characters from Tolkien's fantasy saga. Among Tales of Middle-earth's legendary creatures is one of the wisest and fairest elves ever to walk Middle-earth -- none other than Galadriel, the Lady of the woods of Lothlórien.

]]> Wed, 31 May 2023 15:15:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-lotr-tales-of-middle-earth-galadriel/ Movie adaptations are a challenge to pull off. What works in one medium doesn't work nearly so well in another. Film is primarily visual, whereas books and similar media use language to communicate their stories and ideas. Despite the challenges involved, fans want adaptations to be faithful. They want to see their favorite work on the screen, not a loose interpretation.

]]> Wed, 31 May 2023 14:00:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/movie-adaptations-vs-source-material/ The Lord of the Rings has plenty of pitiable characters. Gollum might be the best example, as his ill-fated life personified the power of Sauron's One Ring. But there were plenty of other tragic characters. The Nazgûl were promised power and turned into thralls. Similarly, Nerdanel watched her seven sons sail to their deaths, and Denethor slipped into despair after waging mental war with Sauron. However, there's one character that's not even remotely pitiable, and that's Saruman the White.

]]> Wed, 31 May 2023 12:00:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-saruman-death-explained/ Magic: The Gathering's upcoming The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth reimagines the franchise's greatest heroes and villains in epic fashion.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 17:30:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-lotr-set-aragorn-galadriel/ Magic: The Gathering's upcoming Universes Beyond expansion set, Tales of Middle-earth, promises to bring Tolkien's epic fantasy saga The Lord of the Rings to life with fun and flavorful MTG cards. It's the biggest Universes Beyond set to date, and it launches with Commander Decks, Boosters, Bundles and more. Unlike other Universes Beyond releases, Tales of Middle-earth will be legal in MTG's highly competitive Modern format, as well as in Commander and MTG's Eternal formats.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 17:17:39 GMT https://www.cbr.com/magic-the-gathering-lord-of-the-rings-spoilers/ Despite numerous production issues and some questionable filming decisions, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is plugging along with its Season 2 efforts. Season 1 came up short for some fans, so everyone involved with the sophomore campaign has been touting the scale, emotion and detail that's in the works. When the new season debuts, fans can expect numerous improvements, including some cool new villains -- and hopefully, there's a future Nazgûl involved.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 13:45:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/rings-of-power-galadriel-major-lotr-event/ Creation in The Lord of the Rings happened through music. The event was called the Ainulindalë, and it began with Eru Ilúvatar. As LOTR's god figure, he conceived the Ainur in his mind and brought them into being. Then, he taught them how to make music, and they did so. At first, there was harmony, but Melkor's musical themes clashed with the rest, causing discord and strife. Yet it was all part of Eru's plan. When their music stopped, the universe had been created.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 12:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-tuor-immortal-valinor/ Magic: The Gathering's take on The Lord of the Rings' Aragorn causes a fervor on social media.

]]> Mon, 29 May 2023 19:03:52 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-aragorn-black-fan-reaction/ Death scenes typically serve as the highlight for films, especially when an essential character is involved. Whether hero or villain, the way an individual goes out is often the way they're remembered and can completely redefine the audience's opinion of them.

]]> Mon, 29 May 2023 15:40:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/weird-movie-deaths/ Recent years have seen an increase in the fantasy genre's popularity, from the hit Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon to the epic sci-fi/fantasy movie Avatar: The Way of Water. Of course, there has always been a dedicated fanbase that loved these fantastical storylines.

]]> Sun, 28 May 2023 17:40:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/overused-fan-favorite-fantasy-tropes/ Led by Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings' Fellowship left Rivendell with plans of making it to Mordor. They wanted to destroy Sauron's One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, but it didn't take long before they ran into problems. A flock of Crebain watched the road south, which meant that the Pass of Rohan wasn't an option. So, Gandalf chose to take the Pass of Caradhras because he knew that something vile was hiding in the depths of Khazad-dûm.

]]> Sun, 28 May 2023 13:30:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-why-balrog-chose-moria-home/