There has been no indication whatsoever since 1977, when The Silmarillion was first published, that Christopher Tolkien as literary executor to his father’s legacy would be willing to sell rights to this book. That is not even the most outrageous of claims:īy the time we got to the Third Age game, we were collaborating with Tolkien on new characters and new fiction within the world and time of the War of the Ring.Īccording to this Christopher Tolkien was WRITING new characters and new fiction set in the worlds of his father. Let’s remember that this was supposed to be an MMORPG: With The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings’ vast appendices at the studio’s disposal, The White Council was en route to shaping up as a bonafide Silmarillion mythopoeia game.

Maher concludes from the comments by Gray and Tremmel: This is because Peter Jackson also collaborated with Christopher Tolkien for his most recent Middle-earth trilogy, showcasing the kind of creative liberty that arises from blending original fiction with Tolkien’s external notes. Director Chris Tremmel makes an even wilder claim: The press release for said game – which never materialised for a number of reasons, the loss of the license certainly the most decisive one – does not include any such hint.īut that is not all.

Tolkien’s The Silmarillion in its source material for the game, and Christopher Tolkien was on board to back it up. It sounds like a horror story (or a fairy-tale, depending on your preferences) but Steve Gray clearly states this in the interview with Maher:ĮA Redwood Shores was considering including J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings: The White Council, concept art.

Tolkien the silmarillion