The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is reportedly the most expensive TV show ever made. Audiences who watched the Lord of the Rings prequel series on Prime Video, which covers the period leading up to the events of the story we know immortalised in print by JRR Tolkien and on screen by Peter Jackson, were treated to jaw-dropping sequences like the birth of Mordor, orc fights both large and small in scale, and the realisation of the dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm in its prime and the realm of men, Númenor, in all its glory.
But even when scenes were quiet one-on-one conversations, sequences were presented with breathtaking beauty and flawless attention to detail. Which is why the prospect of a behind-the-scenes deep dive into the making of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power perhaps has us salivating more than many other ‘making of’ documentaries.
Physical Vs CGI
A brand new trailer for the ‘BTS’ series begins with Elendil (Lloyd Owen) and Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) riding along the shoreline, showing cameras mounted on vehicles in front and behind them. It doesn’t destroy the illusion as such but rather shows us how even the simplest of sequences are shot thoughtfully. Here, there’s a need to capture the kineticism of the riders – and, practically speaking, keep up with the horses!
There are glimpses of the show’s intricate costumes being cut, sewn, and constructed and astonishingly realistic make-up effects, as well as a look at just how much of the series’ props and sets were physically built as opposed to computer generated.
A Love Affair With Fantasy
Markella Kavenagh, who plays Harfoot Nori Brandyfoot in the series, says the ‘making of’ “bridges the fantasy with the reality”. Galadriel actor Morfydd Clark, meanwhile, explains in the documentary that part of the appeal of fantasy lies in the opportunity to “explore elements of ourselves that we might not be brave enough to look at”.
Elendil actor Lloyd Owen adds, “Even though it’s written through different people in different worlds, it all comes back to the complications of being human.”
Each ‘making of’ piece corresponds to one of the first season’s eight episodes. The team behind the docs was granted exclusive access and each film features behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with the cast, showrunners, executive producers, directors, and production team. It looks to be essential viewing for fans of the series.
How To Watch
This special look at previously unreleased behind-the-scenes content from Season One’s eight episodes is now available on Prime Video’s X-Ray service, via a full-screen experience that can be launched anytime while watching the series. Viewers can also access the X-Ray episodes by scrolling to the Bonus Content section on the series’ main page on Prime Video.
The technology of showing you who that actor now includes more — What song is playing? Where can I buy this book? How did they scale the Harfoots and Dwarves? Via mobile device or web browser on Prime Video, move your cursor, tap the screen, and/or pause the series to reveal on-screen X-Ray controls. X-Ray’s on-screen Quickview mode disappears after a few moments, so to see X-Ray information again, just tap, click or move your cursor again. Click or tap “X-Ray View All” at the top left of the screen to enter full screen X-Ray.
On Smart TVs or streaming media devices: “The Making of The Rings of Power” behind-the-scenes pieces will be available as Bonus Content. Scroll to the Bonus Content section on the show’s main page, where all eight segments will be available to view individually.
Watch our exclusive San Diego Comic-con interview with the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power below.