Current Events > LotR Purist Christopher Tolkien Resigns as Tolkien Estate Director

(+) Yeah! (+)

There might very well soon be some big changes for fans of Lord of the Rings as Christopher Tolkien has officially resigned from his position as the Tolkien Estate director. Christopher is the 93-year-old son of Lord of the Rings mastermind and creator, J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien has overseen and been a big part of several enormous decisions when it comes to the handling of his fathers classic works and has always had a very particular viewpoint.

Since hes been in control of the estate, Christopher has been an undeniable purist when it comes to the Lord of the Rings. Tolkien treated his fathers work with the utmost respect and care, being very careful about who gets control of telling stories in the universe and what theyre allowed to do. This is why the news of his retirement could have big repercussions for the future of Lord of the Rings. The newly announced (and somewhat controversial) Amazon TV series set in the Lord of the Rings universe could be the first of many radical changes for the brand.

https://screenrant.com/lord-rings-christopher-tolkien-estate-director-exit/
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How'd he let Shadow of Mordor slip past him if he's such a purist?
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I hope they make a film about Beren and Luthien.
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Will we finally get a movie or series on the second age where all the cool shit happens?
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A_Good_Boy posted...

How'd he let Shadow of Mordor slip past him if he's such a purist?

Those games are allowed to explore the movie universe created by New Line, but aren't allowed to expand on the book lore. I don't really know where they draw the distinction, but that's what I read somewhere when SoM came out.
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A_Good_Boy posted...

How'd he let Shadow of Mordor slip past him if he's such a purist?

What does this mean?

I keep hearing that SoM and SoW butchered the lore, but I know nothing of LoTR so...
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Gonna be some big upheaval in the coming years, that's for sure.
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Wow, people were just talking about how they couldn't believe he'd let loose the grips for that LotR TV series a few days ago on the TV board.

Guess this explains that.
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50Blessings posted...

Wow, people were just talking about how they couldn't believe he'd let loose the grips for that LotR TV series a few days ago on the TV board.

Guess this explains that.

Turns out human hands are only large enough to cling to either the entirety of LotR lore or life.
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leverageblargh posted...

Purist doesn't mean he has a stick up his ass like LOTR nerds do

From everything I've heard, he actually did have quite the stick up his ass.

Shadow of Mordor got made through movie rights loop holes IIRC. In fact, I think that one of the stipulations was specifically why it was titled with "Middle Earth" and not "Lord of the Rings"
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50Blessings posted...

leverageblargh posted...

Purist doesn't mean he has a stick up his ass like LOTR nerds do

From everything I've heard, he actually did have quite the stick up his ass.

Shadow of Mordor got made through movie rights loop holes IIRC. In fact, I think that one of the stipulations was specifically why it was titled with "Middle Earth" and not "Lord of the Rings"

lol.
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Yay, can't wait for the next Hobbit trilogy!

honestly hoping for hobbit porn
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How'd he let that Hobbit trilogy abomination get by
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Can't wait for the new series on the CW where Melkor is an edgy teenage Valar with a crush on Vadra and is always getting up to hijinks to the chagrin of Eru Iluvatar.
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Smashingpmkns posted...

How'd he let that Hobbit trilogy abomination get by

I'm ready for the Smaug Origin story that will turn into a trilogy that happens before The Hobbit.

Is anyone going to answer my question?
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ZombiePelican posted...

Is anyone going to answer my question?

You'd have to talk to a hardcore book fan to get an accurate answer, and you'd probably not even understand it for the most part cause it has to do with backstory stuff I think.

Someone explained it to me once, but all I remember was basically "lol Celebrimbor wasn't a wraith"
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50Blessings posted...

ZombiePelican posted...

Is anyone going to answer my question?

You'd have to talk to a hardcore book fan to get an accurate answer, and you'd probably not even understand it for the most part cause it has to do with backstory stuff I think.

Someone explained it to me once, but all I remember was basically "lol Celebrimbor wasn't a wraith"

Another big one is that men *never* come back to life in Tolkiens works.
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Only one guy comes back to life
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Cant wait for endless trash
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D-Lo_BrownTown posted...

50Blessings posted...

ZombiePelican posted...

Is anyone going to answer my question?

You'd have to talk to a hardcore book fan to get an accurate answer, and you'd probably not even understand it for the most part cause it has to do with backstory stuff I think.

Someone explained it to me once, but all I remember was basically "lol Celebrimbor wasn't a wraith"

Another big one is that men *never* come back to life in Tolkiens works.

Beren says hi.
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my prediction is what happened to star wars will happen to Lord of the Rings. they will finally continue the story. there will be a sequel to the War of the Ring

I knew shit was popping off at the Estate. Christopher would have never let this happen especially since he didn't even approve of the 6 movies. It sounds like he stepped down obviously because of his age, and I bet the rest of the Estate has been dying to whore LotR out.

They probably started approaching studios with the $250 million offer the second he started the process to leave.

I think they should have just left LotR alone.
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Peter Jackson is the reason why the movies were a hit despite the hobbit trilogy being a mess he and his team spent years in pre production on the Lord of the rings trilogy which led to a success. The entire crew from the actors to the make up artists to the design and production crew was heavily involved in crafting these movies.

Honestly I don't see this kind of dedication happening in a tv series especially if it isn't high budget.
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Christopher Tolkien never approved of the films.

As for Shadow of Mordor/War

The timeline is greatly condensed and the identity of the Nazgul are crap (this is the only one that annoys me) and some liberties are stretched like Shelob, but not outright lore breaking given her mother could also shapeshift.

Talion never actually died, just was prevented by Celebrimbor and this can be seen whenever Celebrimbor leaves by his wounds reopening.

And Celebrimbor being a wraith fits into their story fine, and elves could be wraiths in the lore.
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Zikten posted...

my prediction is what happened to star wars will happen to Lord of the Rings. they will finally continue the story. there will be a sequel to the War of the Ring

That could be cool if it was actually done well and not LotR 2.0.
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stoltenberg11 posted...

Zikten posted...

my prediction is what happened to star wars will happen to Lord of the Rings. they will finally continue the story. there will be a sequel to the War of the Ring

That could be cool if it was actually done well and not LotR 2.0.

Dear god no. There is enough existing material in The Silmarillion and the Appendixes in LOTR to last from now till the end of time.
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ScazarMeltex posted...

stoltenberg11 posted...

Zikten posted...

my prediction is what happened to star wars will happen to Lord of the Rings. they will finally continue the story. there will be a sequel to the War of the Ring

That could be cool if it was actually done well and not LotR 2.0.

Dear god no. There is enough existing material in The Silmarillion and the Appendixes in LOTR to last from now till the end of time.

do it
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Thank god

Dude has had a gigantic stick up his ass about lotr for the longes time

Maybe now we might get to see some First and Second Age content brought to life
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At 93 I'd be tired of all this bullshit too.
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matteus70 posted...

At 93 I'd be tired of all this bullshit too.

Shit yeah I wouldve retired years ago
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ScazarMeltex posted...

stoltenberg11 posted...

Zikten posted...

my prediction is what happened to star wars will happen to Lord of the Rings. they will finally continue the story. there will be a sequel to the War of the Ring

That could be cool if it was actually done well and not LotR 2.0.

Dear god no. There is enough existing material in The Silmarillion and the Appendixes in LOTR to last from now till the end of time.

Don't think they will have the rights to the Silmarillion, and I don't remember much from the appendices. From what I heard the show is going to take place inbetween the events of The Hobit and LotR stories and I just don't think I could get all that excited for that when we already know how the end game plays out.
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I cant wait for Frodo to be part of the MCU.
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kuwab0 posted...

Cant wait for endless trash

Its already here
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Lol

That guy has a giant stick up his ass. Good riddance.
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Looking forward to Lord of the Rings in space
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Mal_Fet posted...

Can't wait for the new series on the CW where Melkor is an edgy teenage Valar with a crush on Vadra and is always getting up to hijinks to the chagrin of Eru Iluvatar.

Irony posted...

Looking forward to Lord of the Rings in space

^

I mean come on, there's a reason the guy had a stick up his ass. He didn't want other people to take his father's (with Christopher's help) work and screw with it. We're just going to get crap like the above or other stuff that goes completely against what Tolkien himself wanted.

The movies were pretty good themselves (as movies), but they had typical hollywood crap in them too. In this day in age, we're going to get more fanfiction that will make the video games look like The Silmarillion.

People are going to expect another LOTR trilogy, but all we are going to get is shittier versions of the Hobbit one.
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Amazon is doing something with Tolkien's work?

As a Tolkien purist, I reject this. I boycotted The Hobbit trilogy. I will likely boycott any future TV shows/movies too.

I will not let my relationship with Tolkien's work be besmirched by such pop culture drivel.
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Guess this means LotR and GoT can now exist in the same medieval universe. That would be fucking cool.
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Imagine if they tried to connect the Harry Potter universe to the LotR Universe -.-
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Sativa_Rose posted...

Amazon is doing something with Tolkien's work?

As a Tolkien purist, I reject this. I boycotted The Hobbit trilogy. I will likely boycott any future TV shows/movies too.

I will not let my relationship with Tolkien's work be besmirched by such pop culture drivel.

Eh, I'm inclined to agree, but at the same time not. If they adapt stuff from e.g., Silmarillion that's already loosely told, they could get away with quite a bit. But I doubt I'll be happy with the end product.
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Southernfatman posted...

The movies were pretty good themselves (as movies), but they had typical hollywood crap in them too

Let me guess, you are upset they didn't include Tom Bombadil or a million little songs every 5 minutes?
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Jagr_68 posted...

Guess this means LotR and GoT can now exist in the same medieval universe. That would be fucking cool.

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Hobbit porn!
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E32005 posted...

93-year-old

This is the important part.

E32005 posted...

Hobbit porn!

We already have Ron Jeremy.

Sparksfanboy posted...

Sativa_Rose posted...

Amazon is doing something with Tolkien's work?

As a Tolkien purist, I reject this. I boycotted The Hobbit trilogy. I will likely boycott any future TV shows/movies too.

I will not let my relationship with Tolkien's work be besmirched by such pop culture drivel.

It's a tv series, it's already been ear marked for multiple seasons, and it will be a prequel. That's about all that we know so far. I find it pretty weird that this announcement happens a few weeks after we learn about this TV series. He really hated the Hobbit trilogy from what I've heard tsareeena.

It better be Silmarillion, dammit.