Tom Budge has left the upcoming Lord of the Rings show produced by Amazon Studios. After filming shut down in March of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the show resumed production recently in New Zealand.
Even though the location remains the same as the films, the show will take place thousands of years before the beloved trilogy’s events and will feature a different plotline. The new installment in the franchise will be set in the Second Age of Middle-earth 3000 years prior to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
The series has been commissioned for a five-season deal and has already been renewed for a second season. With a $500 million budget, the show is set to be one of the most expensive undertakings in television history.
Beginning in a peaceful setting, the show will introduce a new ensemble cast of both new and old characters who will be haunted by evil. The character list is yet to be revealed, but the massive cast, including Budge, has already been declared.
However, the actor surprised fans when he announced his departure from the show on his Instagram. In the post from Sunday, March 14, Budge informed fans with “great sadness” that he has left the project after filming over the past year.
Not going into too many details, he revealed his character is going in a different direction. His statement was in accompaniment with a video of singer Johnny Cash performing “Ring of Fire.”
Due to the intense confidentiality surrounding the show, it is yet to be revealed what character Budge was playing. From his Instagram post, it seems Amazon decided to terminate his contract based on his performance. The golden opportunity would’ve been a major step in pushing forward Budge’s career as he has already garnered wonderful credits from his many ventures.
But as unfortunate as the news is, here’s hoping the decision is in the best interests of the show’s future and Budge’s career ahead.
Source: Instagram
About The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an American TV series, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay for streaming on Amazon Prime.
Set 3,000 years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the show will be set in the Second Age of Middle-earth. Beginning with a time of peace, the series will follow the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron and the forging of the rings of power.
The cast includes Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, and Dylan Smith among many others.
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