J.R.R. Tolkien Biopic In the Works

Courtesy telegraph.co.uk

The LA Times has reported that the story of writer J.R.R. Tolkien is set to be told in a new Hollywood biopic. Tentatively being called “Tolkien,” the film will focus on his formative years at Pembroke College and the influences behind his popular fictional works that include “The Hobbit” and "The Lord of the Rings” series.

Will his friendship with C.S. Lewis be explored? It almost has to be. The Times goes on to point out that Tolkien’s early experiences shaped him and will be examined, “Born in South Africa in 1892 and raised in England, Tolkien went on to serve in the Great War, where many of his closest friends were killed in combat. That experience affected him deeply, and he would come to channel both his friends and their fates into his writing and world-creation.”

The script is currently being penned by Irish-born screenwriter David Gleeson, who is described as “a Tolkien superfan and scholar of sorts about the Middle-earth creator.’ The film is set to be produced by Peter Chernin’s Chernin Entertainment and set up at Fox Searchlight, but there is no word on if the very private Tolkien estate will be involved in the project.

They also go on to point out that audiences are hungry for all things Tolkien, “If audiences love for Tolkien’s work is any indication, though, filmmakers on ‘Tolkien’ will have a popular subject on their hands: Movies based on Tolkien’s literary output, including Jackson’s 'LOTR' series, have grossed nearly $4 billion around the world, with 'Smaug' expected to add significantly to that total.”

Is this a film you'll be heading to theaters to check out or are you happy just watching his books come to life on the screen? The second in “The Hobbit” series of films, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” hits theaters on December 13.

-Larissa Mrykalo