The world of The Lord of the Rings is growing. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has galloped to life in anime form to tell the tale of Rohan. And up next, we have The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which will put everyone’s favorite slithering creature back in the spotlight. But most likely, this is only the beginning. Nerdist has the chance to sit down with long-time Percy Jackson collaborator Philippa Boyens, who has been a writer and producer on many The Lord of the Rings movies, to talk about her work. When asked if there was a Tolkien tale that was her Middle-earth White Whale, The Lord of the Rings movie she’d most want to make, Boyens answered that there was. And what is it, you ask? Well, Philippa Boyens would most love to make a The Lord of the Rings movie telling the tale of Beren and Lúthien. And we have to say, we would love that too.
Here’s what The Lord of the Rings‘ Boyens shared about her dream Beren and Lúthien movie:
Yes, yes, yes, there is [a The Lord of the Rings movie she’d most like to make]. It has, my heart always has. I think the story of Beren and Lúthien is just magnificent. It is like the precursor of so much that comes after. But listen, I completely understand and respect the estate, and I think it may end up being other minds who may have to tell that story. And if they do, I’ll be the first in line to see it.
The Lord of the Rings fans would probably be very much in agreement with Boyens when it comes to wanting to see a Beren and Lúthien movie. The story of Beren and Lúthien, as Boyens notes, is one of the most beautiful, the most romantic in The Lord of the Rings universe. And, as noted, it sets up so much that comes later in the world, and so many other relationships call back to it. A Beren and Lúthien movie seems like it would be an obvious choice when it comes to picking new The Lord of the Rings films. But, of course, making movies is a complex process.
The story of Beren and Lúthien is one of the three Great Tales of Tolkien’s Legendarium. Tolkien himself considered it to be one of the most important stories of The Lord of the Rings‘ world. While there is deep nuance to the tale, the crux of it is that Beren is a mortal man and Lúthien an immortal elf, and so, of course, their romance is steeped in the specter of tragedy. But beyond the trials of their love, Beren and Lúthien are also part of the story of the Dark Lord Morgoth, who rose before Sauron, and the powerful Silmarils, which he stole from the elves. I think we can already see how a Beren and Lúthien movie would be one worth tuning in for. Love, adventure, danger, what more could you want in a film?
It’s clear Boyens loves the subject matter, so we’d fully support her getting to tell this great tale. But as Boyens herself notes, whoever does make the Beren and Lúthien movie, we’ll be seated to see it.