Amazon's 'Lord of the Rings' Series Casts Will Poulter in Leading Role

The big-budget Amazon venture of the adaptation of Lord of the Rings has now found one of its leads. According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, Will Poulter will star in the show based on J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy novels. Details of his role are being kept under wraps. He will join Australian actress Markella Kavenagh, who was the first person to be cast in the project.

The tech and retail giant acquired rights to LOTR in a $250 million deal that includes a multi-season commitment for the series. Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay (Star Trek 4) are adapting the story, which is set in Middle-Earth's Second Age, before the events of Tolkien's primary trilogy — The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

J.A. Bayona (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) is set to direct the first two episodes and will executive produce along with his producing partner Belén Atienza. Writers Gennifer Hutchison (Breaking Bad), Jason Cahill (The Sopranos) and Justin Doble (Stranger Things) are also EPs, as are Lindsey Weber, Bruce Richmond, Gene Kelly and former Amazon head of genre Sharon Tal Yguado.

Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said in August that the creative team has been "working for months" on breaking the first season of the show. Production is slated to begin in 2020.

Once production budgets, casting, writers, producers and visual effects are factored in, the total cost for the LOTR series could reach as high $1 billion.