J.R.R. Tolkien's name has become a famous one throughout the literary and pop-culture communities. His works of fantasy have touched the hearts and minds of countless people and now, on the verge of the release of Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" comes the news that the man himself will be the subject of a film about his life.
"Tolkien" as the project is tentatively called, according to The L.A. Times, will take a look at the author's life, particularly his time at Pembroke College and as a soldier fighting in World War I. All of these experiences has a profound impact on the author's life and influenced his work and career in many ways according to a person familiar with the project.
The script for the biopic is reportedly being worked on by David Gleeson, a Tolkien superfan and scholar of all things Tolkein including Middle Earth. The film will be produced by Peter Chernin's company Chernin Entertainment, which is responsible for recent titles like "The Heat" and "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." That team will work with Fox Searchlight to produce the only definitive biopic ever produced about Tolkien. There was a project in the works years ago that included "Mirkwood," a fantastical look at his work as a code breaker during WWII. That project ran into trouble with the author's estate, which is known for being very private, and was put on the shelf. It's unclear as of this time what role Tolkien's family will play in the Gleeson movie.
"In its view of a complicated creative genius and the personal struggles that helped shape it, "Tolkien" shares similarities with "Finding Neverland," the 2004 best picture nominee about "Peter Pan" author J.M. Barrie. The project also comes at a time when the subgenre is back in the spotlight. "Saving Mr. Banks," John Lee Hancock's story of the prickly P.L. Travers turning her iconic "Mary Poppins" into a movie, has been garnering critical and awards buzz ahead of its release by Disney next month," The Times reports.
