Amazon's upcoming Lord of the Rings show is set to be the biggest in the studio's history, and pre-production has already started in New Zealand. It has now been announced that two episodes will be directed by Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom's JA Bayona.
Amazon has confirmed that Bayona will helm that first episodes in Season 1, and also executively produce alongside partner Belén Atienza. As well as last year's Jurassic World sequel, Bayona is known for the Guillermo Del Toro-produced horror The Orphanage and the acclaimed drama A Monster Calls.
In a statement, Bayona said: "J.R.R. Tolkien created one of the most extraordinary and inspiring stories of all time, and as a lifelong fan it is an honor and a joy to join this amazing team. I can't wait to take audiences around the world back to Middle-earth and have them discover the wonders of the Second Age, with a never-before-seen story."
The Lord of the Rings show will be set before the events of JRR Tolkien's trilogy of books and Peter Jackson's movie adaptations. It will take place during the Second Age, which is a 3,441-year period that covered major events like the forging of the Rings of Power, the War of Sauron, the beginning of the Ringwraiths, and and the Numenor island sinking into the ocean.
The series will be written by JD Payne and Patrick McKay, who have also penned the upcoming Dwayne Johnson vehicle Jungle Cruise. It currently has no confirmed cast or release date.
In related news, a new Lord of the Rings video game focused on Gollum is in development at Daedalic Entertainment, while a AAA online Lord of the Rings game is also on the way.