A Tolkien biopic

[Drogobaggins]

AS I was watching the extra features againt he other day I was thinking it would be a great idea to do a J.R.R. Tolkien biopic, which would include his friendship with C.S. Lewis, the war, and his reaction to the phenomanon. Johnny Depp played a great J.M. Barrie. What are other people's thoughts? I can't yet decide who would make a great Tolkien.

[Nimrandir]

I always thought it would be a fantastic Idea to make a biograhy on Tolkien. But the actor to play him would be so difficult to find. Much more difficult then any of the charecters he created. This movie would be so important. When i think of Tolkien I always see(for an actor in movies) Ian Mckellen At the beggining of FOTR in Hobbitton. He listened to recordings of Tolkien and based it on Gandalf the Grey. It comes across specifcally in Hobbitton when his voice is very low. But, they don't look alike. The search would be extensive. Would it be better to cast a younger actor, so as to portray his early days and then make him look old using makeup, etc.

[Anglachel_Sword]

I guess you´re talking about a movie about tolkien´s life ¿?

It would be great, for sure, because he was a special person and lived the horror of a war, and wrote about it, he lived a love story: Beren and Luthien, and he wrote about it, and well ,interesting to show his life and how he get inspired to write all his stories.

[PsYkOoOoO]

That's actually a great idea.Haha.Sorta like Finding Neverland you mean?

Very good idea.Haha.

[MoreOrLess]

I'd guess it would focus on WW1 mainly contrasting it with his fantasy writing, probabley not something the man himself would have approved of.

[Moridin]

The young Tolkien: Kevin Spacey (too bad he's American)
The older Tolkien: Anthony Hopkins.

[KeyserLime]

How old was tolkien during his time in WWI

[Nimrandir]

The young Tolkien: Kevin Spacey (too bad he's American)
The older Tolkien: Anthony Hopkins.
ABSOLUTELY NOT! They look and sound nothing alike.

[Nimrandir]

How old was tolkien during his time in WWI
Tolkien went into the Army in 1915. He took up the commission of Second Lietenant and learned to command a platoon.

[Rizor]

Yeah. I first thought up a Tolkien biopic when I read a bio of him by Humphrey Carpenter. Good book.

Anyway, I always thought Nicholas Rowe (from Young Sherlock Holmes)looked like a young John Ronald Reuel.

http://www.birmingham-oratory.org.uk/oratory/Tolkien.jpghttp://www.americanphoto.co.jp/pages/eiga/YA/Previews/Plans-37561.jpg

Since the actor's obviously older now, maybe he'll make a good middle-aged Tolkien.

[winter]

Have you ever heard Tolkien speak? He's unintelligible. Wouldn't it be a hoot showing Tolkien teaching a class and the students unable to understand a word he's saying. Maybe have C S Lewis's booming voice in the back ground drowning out Tolkien's.

The highlights, for me, would be:

His youth: the relationship with his mother and her being basically disowned because of her Catholicism. After her death, Tolkien being raised by the local Catholic priest.

His meeting and falling in love with Edith.

WWI and how it affected his writing.

The constant tinkering with Silmarillion until his death. (I could invision scenes coming to life as he's writing.)

LOTR and how it all came together.

[winter]

Tolkien went into the Army in 1915. He took up the commission of Second Lietenant and learned to command a platoon.

He was 23.

[Nimrandir]

Yeah. I first thought up a Tolkien biopic when I read a bio of him by Humphrey Carpenter. Good book.

Anyway, I always thought Nicholas Rowe (from Young Sherlock Holmes)looked like a young John Ronald Reuel.

http://www.birmingham-oratory.org.uk/oratory/Tolkien.jpghttp://www.americanphoto.co.jp/pages/eiga/YA/Previews/Plans-37561.jpg

Since the actor's obviously older now, maybe he'll make a good middle-aged Tolkien.
He is a good actor, but I can't see him as tolkien. Tolkien looks very different a few years down the line.

If you want a good biography on Tolkien that covers all you mentioned and much more, try: Tolkien Man and Myth by Joseph Pearce. Truely magnificent.

[Nimrandir]

He was 23.
Yes, and married Edith a year later for fear he might never return from the war.

[Brock Landers]

It'd be great to see, Tolkien was quite the person(I too read the biography by Humphrey Carpenter, and "The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien). Haha, I've always had this image in my head of Tolkien sitting in a room when he was compiling the Lord of the Rings and around him are stacks and stacks of paper, a tired englishman sitting at a desk surrounded by his life's works.

;)

[PsYkOoOoO]

F-k man.This is a bloody brilliant idea.I already have images popping out in my head.And that guy DOES look like Tolkien!Holy...

[Nimrandir]

It'd be great to see, Tolkien was quite the person(I too read the biography by Humphrey Carpenter, and "The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien). Haha, I've always had this image in my head of Tolkien sitting in a room when he was compiling the Lord of the Rings and around him are stacks and stacks of paper, a tired englishman sitting at a desk surrounded by his life's works.

;)
I share that vision of yours and it is spelled out in the book I miention. He had a study upstairs that was just wall to wall, ceiling to ceiling with books and papers that he was writting. The White Mountains!

[Drogobaggins]

Perhaps Anthony Hopkins could play Lewis again reprising his Shadowlands role.

[Nimrandir]

Perhaps Anthony Hopkins could play Lewis again reprising his Shadowlands role.
That would be nice but I think they should go with younger actors and make them look older at time for the part, instead of having several different people playing each charecter.

[Glordreen]

This is a fabulos Idea.

[Glordreen]

double post

[The Red Avenger]

Controversial I know but what about Martin Clunes.

He has often appeared in films and TV as young and old, he only needs to lose a litte weight and he could pass for 20's. Stick a bit of make up on him 70's. Anybody seen Goodbye Mr Chips - he's brilliant in it.

I wonder if Sir Ian would approve of the biopic idea.

I would dearly love to see him writing the Sil and as his voice describes whats happening we have dramatisation of what he is writing. Beren and Luthien, Turin, Feanor, Earendil etc...

What a bloody fantastic idea.
...
RA

[Nimrandir]

I am sure Sir Ian would love the idea. He might even want the role. If he did I think that would be great. But, it would be difficult with the younger Tolkien.