Dueling J.R.R. Tolkien Biopics Are In Development
This winter brings us the final installment ofPeter Jackson’sThe Hobbittrilogy, which means we’re done with trips to Middle-earth for the time being. (Well, at least until Warner Bros. figures out how to adaptThe Silmarillionor deems it time to remake theLord of the Ringsseries.) It does not, however, mean we’re done withJ.R.R. Tolkien.
Two separate Tolkien biopics are in the works at the moment: the faith-basedTolkien & Lewis, which explores the fantasy author’s relationship withNarniacreatorC.S. Lewis, and the more straightforwardTolkien, which is set up at Fox Searchlight. More details on both after the jump.
However, THR now writes that the faith-basedTolkien & Lewiscould get to theaters first.Simon West(The Expendables 2) is already set to direct the $18 million indie, with an eye toward releasing the film around Easter. The story takes place at the start of World War II, as Tolkien struggles with his memories of World War I and Lewis' religious convictions threaten his relationships and his career.
Lewis was a famously Christian author, but he was an atheist before the devoutly Catholic Tolkien helped convert him. In turn, Lewis encouraged Tolkien to finish hisLord of the Ringsseries. However, their friendship eventually soured over creative and religious differences.
“Lewis becoming the poster boy for Christianity upset Tolkien,” explainedWernher PramschuferofTolkien & Lewisproducer Attractive Films. “And obsessive genius Tolkien is blocked, terrified of finishingThe Fellowship of the Ring, for fear of the strange, psychotic visions which torture him.”
The overtly religious angle could mean thatTolkien & Lewiswon’t have the same mainstream appeal of Warner Bros.‘Lord of the Ringsand The Hobbit films, though the story of two brilliant creatives sounds like an intriguing one. Tolkien superfans may be more interested in Fox Searchlight’s take, as writer Gleeson is reportedly one of them.
