Amazon's Lord of the Rings Series Will Break from J. R. R. Tolkien's Canon

Very clickbait headline. The relevant info is that the show will include Harfoots (a type of hobbit), but the story is supposedly based in the 2nd age. Tolkien Canon doesn’t have hobbits appearing until the 3rd age, according to the article.

My understanding is that Tolkien canon doesn’t have any stories big enough for a full show, though it does have lots of smaller tales scattered throughout history. So to make a show, they have to create a narrative within the context and setting of the world at that time. I think Tolkien paints a rich history, so there is a lot of existing world building to pull from to set the show within. I don’t think the change “hobbits exist in the world a few hundred years earlier” makes a negative impact — I think many will be excited to see hobbits in the show!

Side note: I think it’s interesting that Amazon is spending so much money on the show. I hope that means they know they need to “do it right” and not cut corners in order to attract the huge LOTR fanbase. I also find it interesting that they are contractually obligated to make five seasons.

I think everybody already figured this out. Tolkien's a bit old fashioned, even Jackson thought his work needed a few extra jokes, zingers, and love triangles which would have horrified the now deceased author, a relic of another time. It's good to keep things fresh, it's why we rewrite the Bible and the Koran every few years to keep the cultural references and in-jokes fresh.

I just hope it wont be woke.