Amazon has made a key hire for its upcoming Lord of the Rings series. A new report from Deadline confirms that Juan Antonio (J.A.) Bayona, who previously directed the blockbuster Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, will helm the first two episodes. Bayona will also serve as executive producer on the series, along with his producing partner Belén Atienza.
“J.R.R. Tolkien created one of the most extraordinary and inspiring stories of all time, and as a lifelong fan, it is an honor and a joy to join this amazing team,” Bayona told Deadline. “I can’t wait to take audiences around the world to Middle-Earth and have them discover the wonders of the Second Age, with a never before seen story.”
Amazon’s series will take place in Middle-Earth, but it a different time period than the Lord of the Rings films. JD Payne and Patrick McKay are leading a team of writers that have worked on both Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad.
“We are thrilled to have J.A. and Belén joining the fellowship,” said Payne and McKay in a statement. “We have been great admirers of J.A.’s work for years, and know that his epic, cinematic, and deeply heartfelt aesthetic is the perfect sensibility to bring Middle-Earth to life anew.”
Related: Game of Thrones Writer Joins Lord of the Rings Series
Bayona previously directed acclaimed films like The Orphanage, as well as The Impossible and A Monster Calls.
“The scope and breadth of J.A.’s world-building is exactly the right fit for our ambitions for The Lord of the Rings,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. “He’s a passionate and collaborative director who has brought new stories to life with his multitalented producing partner, Belén. We are all excited for them to join our writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, and we can’t think of a better way to begin this journey to Middle-earth.”
Amazon doesn’t currently have date set for The Lord of the Rings series to begin production.
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