A casting call for Amazon’s gigantic Lord of the Ring series is doing the rounds on social media because, well, it’s cool as hell. Also, it’s very… specific.
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Auckland casting agency BGT posted a callout for talent on Facebook in October. But the post is still pinned to the top of its page and their website is still taking applications… you know what to do.
The catch is you can only apply if you are a New Zealand resident or hold a valid New Zealand work visa. Considering how close we are to our Kiwi mates, I reckon the latter applies to a few of you.
Okay, so what is Amazon looking for? Very tall (over 6-foot-7) people, very short (under 5 feet) people, ethereal-looking folk, and “hairy, hairy people of all ages and ethnicities”. I cannot express how much these people want hair.
Amazon’s also looking for character faces with lots of wrinkles – “weathered-looking skin, so earthy skin tones, very heavy lines and wrinkles.”
Production’s also keen on people with unique facial features like interesting ears, noses, and lots of freckles. Again, they really want lots of “HAIR, HAIR, HAIR – if you have natural red hair, white hair, or lots and lots of freckles.”
By the sounds of it – “LA type bikers that have long hair, beards” and “dancer types that are tall, elegant, lean, fair-skinned” – the team are looking for dwarfs and elves.
Another casting agency posted a similar call out for talent on Facebook, asking for “earthy, weathered, dark skin tones, missing teeth, and wonderful noses”.
According to the New Zealand Herald, extras will be paid NZD$295 a day.
Honestly, what a dream.
A lot of details about the Lord of the Rings series is still under lock and key but we do know some things.
Star Trek 4 writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay will serve as the almighty showrunners. The duo will work with a handful of talent like writers Gennifer Hutchinson (Breaking Bad), Helen Shang (Hannibal), Jason Cahill (The Sopranos) Justin Doble (Stranger Things), Stephany Folson (Toy Story 4), and Bryan Cogman (Game of Thrones).
J.A. Bayona, whose directing credits include The Impossible, The Orphanage, A Monster Calls, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, will direct the first two episodes.
The team also includes the original Lord of the Rings illustrator / concept artist John Howe as well as Tolkien Scholar Tom Shippey, who may or may not have said there are supposed to be 20 episodes in season 1.
Amazon’s Lord of the Rings, based on the works of J.R.R Tolkien, will take place in the Second Age. No news yet on a release date, but the crew are already working on season 2.
