Millions know and love the all-time famous Lord of the Rings trilogy featuring Frodo Baggins and Saurons’ treacherous One Ring, but do they know of the legends told millennia before the tale of The Hobbit? The book in which Tolkien created Arda and its very first inhabitants, The Silmarillion is finally receiving its long-awaited rendering in the form of a  TV adaptation.

The Amazon Prime series will focus on the Second Age, which features the grand island of Númenor, Sauron’s initial rise to power, the elven creator of the rings named Celebrimbor, and several more storylines. Followers from all around the globe have expressed thrill over a new addition to the franchise.

“I am super excited about the series! Let’s just say I know what I will be doing on Sept. 2 and there may or may not be a costume involved,” said PALS teacher Ian Jaschek, a longtime fan of the legendary series. “I have always been a huge fan of the movies and have lost count of how many times I have marathoned them.”

On the new series’ official Twitter account, a single teaser image featuring  a suspected Galadriel in Valinor, was released, captioned along with the words “On Sept. 2, 2022, a new journey begins.” Initially exciting, the teaser has also brought up questions about Amazon’s claim to only be filming the Second Age, yet in the teaser image, the city of Tirion is shown, which is only written about in the First Age. Fans will have to wait to see if this teaser is an intentional misdirection or if it is a deeper look into the creation of Arda.  

The series is rumored to already have broken records and is labeled the most expensive TV series to have ever been filmed. Similar to the original Lord of The Rings, filming took place in New Zealand, costing $465 million dollars and providing viewers with another meticulously crafted adaptation.  

Several new fans are expected to watch the series, as the books haven’t been adapted since their most recent Hobbit movies in 2014. The intricate  world of Arda is strongly recommended to fantasy, mythology, and action lovers as the films and books are packed with them. “I would recommend people watch the movies, fall in love with the universe, and then watch the series,” said Jaschek. “ If people can get past the nerdy stigma, I am sure they will love it!”