When it comes to the sprawling, fantastical world of J.R.R. Tolkien, there’s a new show in town, and it’s not exactly in Philippa Boyens’ watchlist. You’d think a writer so deeply entrenched in Middle-earth would be ready to dive into the Rings of Power Season 2, shiny adaptation on Prime Video. But it turns out Boyens, a key writer for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, isn’t planning a binge-fest anytime soon.
The Keeper of Middle-earth Refuses to Join the Prime Parade
Boyens, who co-wrote the LOTR trilogy with the legendary Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, seems to be taking the Gandalf approach: You shall not pass (on her TV, that is). Her reasoning? She’d rather keep her vision of Tolkien’s work untainted by outside interpretations. For her, The Rings of Power might feel like a remix of Middle-earth—one that she didn’t have a hand in creating. And let’s face it, if you’ve been building your own vision of Middle-earth since the early 2000s, anything else might feel like karaoke night at the Prancing Pony.
Not Just Another Fantasy Universe
The magic of Tolkien’s world, according to Boyens, isn’t just about elves with perfect hair and hobbits with even better table manners. It’s the underlying complexity, the unique blend of history, language, and myth, that makes Middle-earth such a daunting playground. With upcoming projects like The War of the Rohirrim anime and The Hunt for Gollum live-action film, Boyens wants to capture that essence—something more than just orcs and epic battles (although, let’s be real, orcs and battles are essential).
By stepping away from The Rings of Power, Boyens is ensuring her take on Tolkien remains, well, her own. After all, why risk letting another take on Middle-earth sneak into her own work? She’s not saying that The Rings of Power is Mordor-level evil—it’s just a different take, a fresh spin. But as Boyens works on her own Middle-earth projects, it’s clear she’s focused on keeping the Jackson-era Tolkien magic alive.
Multiple Middle-earths? Not a Bad Thing
Boyens’ decision doesn’t mean she’s pulling a Smaug and hoarding Tolkien’s legacy for herself. In fact, she seems excited about letting The Rings of Power coexist alongside her projects, offering fans a more varied Middle-earth menu. Think of it as different flavors of lembas bread: maybe Prime’s show is like lembas with a hint of spice, while Boyens’ is that original, no-frills lembas that got Frodo to Mount Doom in the first place.
Middle-earth Fans, Rejoice! You’ve Got Options
So, while Boyens may not be parking herself in front of The Rings of Power, her choice to focus on her version of Tolkien’s work is nothing but good news for fans. We get two creative visions, multiple layers of Tolkien’s world, and maybe, just maybe, a future where hobbits and elves don’t feel like they’re starring in a Game of Thrones knockoff.
For now, we’ll be eagerly awaiting her next Middle-earth project. Because if we’ve learned anything from Tolkien, it’s that all who wander are not lost—and that definitely includes Philippa Boyens.
