Tom Beasley sits down with Finnish director Dome Karukoski to chat about his new biopic Tolkien, in which Nicholas Hoult plays the iconic fantasy author…
The man behind The Lord of the Rings is finally getting the biopic treatment. With Skins star and current X-Man Nicholas Hoult in the lead role, Tolkien examines the friendships and fellowships that turned J. R. R. Tolkien into one of the most memorable authors in the history of English literature. With Lily Collins as Tolkien’s wife, Edith, and Derek Jacobi as his Oxford University mentor, it explores Tolkien’s younger years, as well as his time serving in the First World War.
After making a number of acclaimed films in his native Finland, Dome Karukoski has hopped into the Tolkien director’s chair for his first movie in the English language. He sat down with Flickering Myth for a chat about the film, and the slightly frosty response from the Tolkien estate.
SEE ALSO: Check out our interviews with Tolkien stars Patrick Gibson, Tom Glynn-Carney and Anthony Boyle
The film explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school. This takes him into the outbreak of World War I, which threatens to tear the “fellowship” apart. All of these experiences would inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-earth novels.
Tolkien sees Nicholas Hoult joined in the cast by Lily Collins, Colm Meaney, Anthony Boyle, Patrick Gibson, Tom Glynn-Carney, Craig Roberts, Laura Donnelly, Genevieve O’Reilly, Pam Ferris and Derek Jacobi. It is set for release on May 3rd 2019 in the UK and May 10th 2019 in North America.
Tom Beasley is a freelance film journalist and wrestling fan. Follow him on Twitter via @TomJBeasley for movie opinions, wrestling stuff and puns.
Originally published April 30, 2019. Updated May 3, 2019.
