If you remember back in Fall 2013, and you have a better memory than I do if you do, we reported that aJ.R.R. Tolkienbiopic wasin the works. It was tentatively titledTolkienthen, a title that it keeps as Fox Searchlight has unveiled the cast, release date, and official synopsis. It was previously reported that the picture would examine theHobbitandTheLord of the Ringsauthor’s life, focusing on his formative years at Pembroke College and as a soldier in World War I, and how those events influenced his work. The synopsis has a few more details now, but the core of the idea remains the same.
Previous comparisons as to the tone of the biopic were made to the Oscar-winningJ.M. Barrielife story,Finding NeverlandandJohn Lee Hancock’s look atWalt DisneyandP.L. TraversinSaving Mr. Banks, though with the benefit of hindsight,Tolkienmight be closer to recent biopicGoodbye Christopher Robin. That picture, which delved into dark territory at times, focused onWinnie the PoohauthorA.A. Milneand his son, though it also drew from Milne’s traumatic military experiences. A previous attempt at a Tolkien biopic was initiated withMirkwood, but the author’s estate obstructed the project; let’s hope they’re on board this time around.
Directed byDome Karukoski(Tom of Finland), written byDavid GleesonandStephen Beresford,Tolkienis produced byPeter Chernin,Jenno Topping,David Ready, andKris Thykier, and starsNicholas Hoult,Lily Collins,Colm Meaney,Anthony Boyle,Patrick Gibson,Tom Glynn-Carney,Craig Roberts,Laura Donnelly,Genevieve O’Reilly,Pam Ferris, andDerek Jacobi. Look for the Fox Searchlight and Chernin Entertainment production in theaters starting May 10th.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Tolkien explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school. This takes him into the outbreak of World War I, which threatens to tear the “Fellowship” apart. All of these experiences would inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-earth novels.
