I was doing a back and forth with an AI agent to help me put the thoughts together. How would I make a Silmarillion movie(s) in a way that
1) it would satisfy Tolkien's fans like myself (and especially the Tolkien Estate) but staying true to the real narrative.
2) it would be attractive to non Tolkien fans, it will raise their interest not only in watching the movies, but learning about the Legendarium the proper way.
3) Don't worry about the budget
I would divide it in 3 movies, but they would be released out of sequence.
First, the director, and I am not budging on that: James Cameron (Peter Jackson would not be allowed within 100 miles of the filming settings).
the first movie would be Beren and Luthien, starting when Beren's companions are killed and Beren recovers the ring of Barahir. Then the rest of the story, ending when Luthien chose their fate and they go to Ossiriand.
There are many things in this movie that the audience wouldn't understand, but that's why we would have a prequel that would be announced at the same time. The idea is that an epic love story with the proper cast and James Cameron's touch would more likely please the audience, rather than starting at the beginning with a lot of obscure facts.
The second movie would be the prequel, all the events that lead to Beren and Luthien.
The third would of course be the end, up to the war of the wrath.
I would introduce some new narratives, not changing anything Tolkien wrote but rather covering things he didn't talk about. For example, I would have Celeborn and Galadriel being the ones that helped Elwing get to the heavens of Sirion.
There is a lot more that I thought of but that would make the post too long, maybe in other posts if there is interest.
About the cast, I haven't figured it all out but I have a few:
Nina Dobrev as Luthien and Elwing
Lee Pace as Thingol
Kat Graham as Melian (I know the vampire diaries crossover)
Chris Hemsworth as Tuor
Candice King as Idril (again the crossover, sorry I am a VD fan)>
Anthony Hopkins as Morgoth
Ryan Gossling as Earendil
I still have to figure out Beren and many others.
Also, in the third movie, I would try to set the seeds for a second age movie, again I will explain in another post.
there are a couple of addictions I would make that I don't believe contradict what Tolkien told us.
First, I would have Celeborn and Galadriel being the ones that helped Elwing escape Doriath, and have Galadriel mentoring her.
I would have Elwing looking very down for the sorrow of losing her people and especially her sons, and Earendil looking both sad, but also with his face showing the scars of being in the sea for so long.
But then, when Earendil holds the silmaril, it would shine brighter than ever, and the scars, the signs of despair would disappear from their faces, the light of the Silmaril would heal them, make them move elvish, like the silmaril already made the choice.
And in the end, after the war, Earendil and Elwing would give the phial to Galadriel, as a thank you for her help.
1) it would satisfy Tolkien's fans like myself (and especially the Tolkien Estate) but staying true to the real narrative.
2) it would be attractive to non Tolkien fans, it will raise their interest not only in watching the movies, but learning about the Legendarium the proper way.
3) Don't worry about the budget
I would divide it in 3 movies, but they would be released out of sequence.
First, the director, and I am not budging on that: James Cameron (Peter Jackson would not be allowed within 100 miles of the filming settings).
the first movie would be Beren and Luthien, starting when Beren's companions are killed and Beren recovers the ring of Barahir. Then the rest of the story, ending when Luthien chose their fate and they go to Ossiriand.
There are many things in this movie that the audience wouldn't understand, but that's why we would have a prequel that would be announced at the same time. The idea is that an epic love story with the proper cast and James Cameron's touch would more likely please the audience, rather than starting at the beginning with a lot of obscure facts.
The second movie would be the prequel, all the events that lead to Beren and Luthien.
The third would of course be the end, up to the war of the wrath.
I would introduce some new narratives, not changing anything Tolkien wrote but rather covering things he didn't talk about. For example, I would have Celeborn and Galadriel being the ones that helped Elwing get to the heavens of Sirion.
There is a lot more that I thought of but that would make the post too long, maybe in other posts if there is interest.
About the cast, I haven't figured it all out but I have a few:
Nina Dobrev as Luthien and Elwing
Lee Pace as Thingol
Kat Graham as Melian (I know the vampire diaries crossover)
Chris Hemsworth as Tuor
Candice King as Idril (again the crossover, sorry I am a VD fan)>
Anthony Hopkins as Morgoth
Ryan Gossling as Earendil
I still have to figure out Beren and many others.
Also, in the third movie, I would try to set the seeds for a second age movie, again I will explain in another post.
there are a couple of addictions I would make that I don't believe contradict what Tolkien told us.
First, I would have Celeborn and Galadriel being the ones that helped Elwing escape Doriath, and have Galadriel mentoring her.
I would have Elwing looking very down for the sorrow of losing her people and especially her sons, and Earendil looking both sad, but also with his face showing the scars of being in the sea for so long.
But then, when Earendil holds the silmaril, it would shine brighter than ever, and the scars, the signs of despair would disappear from their faces, the light of the Silmaril would heal them, make them move elvish, like the silmaril already made the choice.
And in the end, after the war, Earendil and Elwing would give the phial to Galadriel, as a thank you for her help.
