CNet:
There are four ages in Tolkien's works. Lord of the Rings was set in the Third Age, and this series will take place in The Second Age, Amazon revealed in a tweet sent in March 2019. The famous One Ring of Lord of the Rings fame was forged in this time period by the Dark Lord Sauron, who seems likely to be a major part of the new show.
Welcome to the Second Age: — The Lord of the Rings on Prime (@LOTRonPrime)
Amazon's Salke told Deadline, "we're not remaking the movies, but we're also not starting from scratch. So, it'll be characters you love."
But probably not one particular character. Tolkien fan site stirred buzz among fans in May 2018 by that the show's first season would be centered on a young Aragorn. Portrayed by Viggo Mortensen in the Peter Jackson movies, he was an acclaimed warrior and ranger who plays a major role in Lord of the Rings. But that rumor fell flat once Amazon confirmed the Second Age setting, since Aragorn wouldn't have been around then.
It is not yet clear if they're focusing on Numenor in the Second Age, or the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.
(Score: 2) by ikanreed on Saturday January 18 2020, @08:40PM (10 children)
I've had enough fucking legolas for 2 lifetimes and the fuckin elves are the only ones who live long enough to be from the second age.
Now bullroarer, there's a character I want to actually see some trashy hollywood backstory for.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 18 2020, @09:22PM (2 children)
This series has Jar Jar Binks and the "Eye of Bezos".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 18 2020, @09:51PM
eye of bozo? the clown?
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday January 18 2020, @09:58PM
With additional election-year cameos by Andrew Yang, [external-preview.redd.it] Debbie Wasserman-Schulz, [pinimg.com] Pete Buttigieg, [nocookie.net] and Bernie Sanders. [pinimg.com]
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 18 2020, @09:38PM (3 children)
Don't forget the Ents and the wizards. They live a *very* long time.
(Score: 2) by ikanreed on Sunday January 19 2020, @02:44AM (2 children)
The silmilarian is very clear that the Istari arrived in the third age.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 19 2020, @08:27AM
yeah, sure, but who even read that let alone understood it
(Score: 2) by edIII on Sunday January 19 2020, @11:35PM
Correct, which has nothing to do with their age actually. Technically, they don't have one. They were very much alive during the 2nd age, and indeed the 1st age.
Gandalf was Olorin, a Maiar. If they wish to represent Saruman, Gandalf, Radagast, etc., in the 2nd age, it's going to be as the primordial spirits that helped the Valar create the world in the first place. They'll have no knowledge of living in the flesh, or what wizards even are, or their names in the 3rd age.
That's why Gandalf against a Balrog wasn't really a contest, because Gandalf had his hands tied playing the role of "wizard in a flesh suit". While technically equal (Balrogs were also Maiar), Gandalf can "respawn" indefinitely through the aid of the Valar.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 18 2020, @10:51PM (1 child)
Characters in LOTR/The Hobbit that I can think of who would actually be alive during the second age:
Elrond
Galadriel
Treebeard (and many other ents)
Smaug
Shelob
Sauron
Balrog(s)
Bombadil
It's a short list. Legolas never had an established date of birth, but he would have been well over 3000 at the time of LOTR if he had been alive in the Second Age, and he was never portrayed as being that old. The Istari (wizards) are immortal and existed then, but hadn't been sent to Middle-Earth yet. No human or dwarf could possibly live that long. Even Smeagol/Gollum had not been born yet.
Of course there's no reason to expect the LOTR canon will be treated any better than Star Trek or Star Wars, especially with Christopher Tolkien now gone.
(Score: 3, Informative) by bzipitidoo on Sunday January 19 2020, @01:09AM
And many other elves. The few that are mentioned by name are Cirdan, Legolas' father Thranduil, Gildor, Lindir, Erestor, Galdor, and Haldir, Rumil, and Orophin. Possibly Glorfindel too, but there's no telling how long a "dirt nap" he took, so to speak. Other than that, I think you got them all. Smaug though, is too young. Smaug was young when he took the Lonely Mountain from Thorin's grandfather.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 19 2020, @12:20AM
Elves are Tolkien's nordic fetish.
Funny thing, Legolas was played by a Spaniard with bleached blond hair.