8 Stories Amazon's Lord Of The Rings Could Tell
2. Origin Stories For Gandalf And The Other Wizards
Gandalf features in all six Lord of the Rings movies, but there are many more stories to tell about Middle-earth's favourite wizard, who was one of five sent as emissaries from the Undying Lands in the wake of Sauron's defeat to the Elf-man alliance at the end of the Second Age.
Most Lord of the Rings fans will be more than familiar with two of the other Istari - Saruman the White and Radagast the Brown - both of whom have made it to the big screen. The other two were Blue wizards who remain cloaked in mystery to this day.
According to Tolkien's notes and appendices, the Blue duo were sent to the East and never heard from again, but rumour has it that they diminished Sauron's grip on this section of Middle-earth. There could be stories here for the TV show to tell.
Each of the Istari could have seasons dedicated to them. Gandalf and Radagast's could follow them as they roam Middle-earth, helping its various races prepare for Sauron's inevitable return and assisting them with Mordor-based threats. With any luck, Sir Ian McKellen might reprise his role as the Gray wizard.
Saruman's arc could deal with his descent into evil in more detail and explore the events which led to him joining forces with the Dark Lord. Would the fans forgive them for recasting the late, great Christopher Lee? Maybe, if the show was really good.