Amazon Prime's The Lord of the Rings series is confirmed to take place during the Second Age. Thanks to Peter Jackson's film adaptations, Tolkien fans are more familiar with the Third Age, as depicted in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies. The Amazon Prime series aims to break new ground, showcasing a less familiar narrative of Middle-earth. Aside from a history lesson, it's likely audiences will also see a different side to the elves.
In the Third Age, men are a powerful race but easily corruptible. On the other hand, the elves are reluctant participants in the fight against Sauron, preferring to assist from afar. Jackson's adaptation of The Two Towers shows the elves helping out at the Battle of Helm's Deep, but no such thing happens in Tolkien's book. In fact, aside from Legolas, the elves do very little fighting in the trilogy due to their low population and declining power.
What's exciting about The Lord of the Rings TV series is the opportunity to see elves at the height of their power. In the Second Age, elves are central in Middle-earth's history. Not only do they play a role in the creation of the rings, but they are the primary defense against Sauron. It's still unclear what parts of the Second Age Jackson plans to tackle in the Amazon Prime series, but it's likely audiences will witness the creation of the One Ring and the elves who unknowingly helped bring it into existence.
In The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, elves are depicted as wise, immortal creatures who handle the temptation of the Ring much more valiantly than men. It's hard to imagine them ever being fooled by Sauron, who approaches them disguised as Annater, the Lord of Gifts.
Some elves are fooled by this fake persona, particularly those living next to the dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm in Eregion. Their leader, Celebrimbor, mistrusts Annater, but allows him to commission the rings under his smiths. Little do they know, Sauron incorporates binding magic into the rings and then proceeds to secretly forge the One Ring, a master ring capable of controlling the lesser rings and assisting with his domination of Middle-earth.
After Sauron's true identity is revealed, the elves take up arms against the Dark Lord and are aided by a race of men known as the Númenóreans. The Second Age concludes with the elves and men joining forces in the Last Alliance, where they defeat Sauron and take the One Ring, as depicted in The Fellowship of the Ring's opening sequence.
Sauron's "temporary" defeat marks the Third Age's start, when elves pass their role as world leaders to men. The realms of Gondor and Arnor cradle the new responsibility, which is essentially where The Hobbit picks up. Although the realms of Lindon, Lothlórien and Rivendell remain elven havens, the last of the High Elves sail into the West, leaving Middle-earth for good.
Amazon Prime's The Lord of the Rings series is the perfect vehicle to show elves like never before. The Second Age contains bloody battles yet to be seen on screen, and with the elves at the core of the One Ring's creation, fans will see the race at the height of its power and at the forefront of wars. The Lord of the Rings series will put the elves in a central role instead of the supporting one they displayed through much of the Third Age.
Produced by Amazon Studios, The Lord of the Rings stars Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Budge, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers and Daniel Weyman. The series is expected to premiere on Amazon Prime in 2021.