10 Movies That Could Be Made In Middle-Earth After The Hobbit

2. Akallabeth

What's the story? Tar-Miriel, the rightful heir to the throne of humanity's greatest kingdom, the island of Numenor, is forced to marry her cousin Ar-Pharazon who usurps her throne. He liberates Middle Earth from the evil influence of Sauron, taking him captive. As Sauron talks his way into the king's confidence, he convinces him to sail to Valinor's Undying Lands to challenge the Valar and demand immortality. In response, the gods destroy Numenor, sinking it beneath the sea like Atlantis. Why should it be filmed? The story provides a lot more backstory for Sauron. It shows the development his relationship to the kingdoms of men and his antagonism with "the faithful" who do not choose to follow him, primarily Elendil and his family, leading to the events of The Lord Of The Rings' prologue. The film would feature a Sauron who is appealing and charming (a deleted scene from The Return Of The King showed him in this angelic form). Appealing to the legions of Benedict Cumberbatch fans, this would give the actor the chance to play a silver tongued take on his role as The Necromancer. Why shouldn't it be filmed? Like stories of Atlantis or Pompeii, the downfall of Numenor is essentially a deeply downbeat story in which an entire civilisation is wiped out. While there may well be an audience for a Middle Earth disaster movie, it would be something tonally very different to what fans are used to.