Spanish filmmaker J. A Bayona will direct two episodes of Amazon’s upcoming Lord of the Rings series.
In addition to helming, he will serve as executive producer on the series along with his producing partner Belén Atienza.
Bayona most recently directed the blockbuster film “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” which grossed over $1.3 billion at the global box office. Bayona previously directed the critically-acclaimed film “The Orphanage,” as well as films like “The Impossible,” “A Monster Calls,” and the first two episodes of the Showtime series “Penny Dreadful.”
“J.R.R. Tolkien created one of the most extraordinary and inspiring stories of all time, and as a lifelong fan it is an honor and a joy to join this amazing team,” said Bayona. “I can’t wait to take audiences around the world back to Middle-earth and have them discover the wonders of the Second Age, with a never-before-seen story.”
The three film adaptations of “The Lord of the Rings,” from New Line Cinema and director Peter Jackson, earned a combined gross of nearly $6 billion worldwide. The cast included Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Sean Astin and Orlando Bloom.
The film trilogy had also garnered a combined 17 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
