20 Most Hotly Anticipated New TV Shows Of 2021

The Lord of the Rings franchise remains one of cinema's most celebrated accomplishments, with Peter Jackson's unforgettable movie trilogy offering up incredibly larger-than-life adventures that complemented J.R.R. Tolkien's timeless source material. One of the rare times that an adaptation truly did justice to the material it was based on, it's considered by many to be every bit as influential as the novels.

With that in mind, it's easy to see why Amazon's upcoming TV series is one of this year's most alluring. Yes, a return to Middle-earth sounds enticing but what makes the property even more interesting is that it won't attempt to remake Jackson's masterpieces, but add to their legacy.

A prequel set before the events of the novels/films, the series is set in the second age of Middle-earth and it will feature a huge ensemble cast, with Maxim Baldry, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur and Nazanin Boniadi taking on main roles. It's got a huge budget to ensure that it will be as memorable an experience as the movies and the hope is that it will arrive sometime later in the year.