Rory Kinnear will play Tom Bombadil in season two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, bringing the beloved and enigmatic J.R.R. Tolkien character to the screen for the first time.
Kinnear, known for his roles in Black Mirror and the James Bond films, will portray Bombadil, a powerful and pacifistic figure who has been excluded from previous film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings.
In Tolkien’s books, Bombadil is an ancient and mysterious character who resides in Middle-earth. He is described as “older than the old” and possesses an ethereal presence, a penchant for nonsense songs, and a flamboyant wardrobe. He is said to be powerful enough to resist the One Ring, which has no effect on him.
The Rings of Power, an Amazon Prime Video series, will break with tradition by featuring Bombadil in its second season, set to premiere on 29 August 2024. Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay revealed that Bombadil will cross paths with the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) and his Harfoot companions, Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy (Megan Richards), during their travels in the eastern lands of Middle-earth.
Payne and McKay acknowledged the challenges of adapting Bombadil for the screen, noting his ambiguous nature and limited canonical appearances. However, they were drawn to the character’s dichotomy and the opportunity to explore his connection to the natural world. In the series, Bombadil will venture into the lands of Rhûn, once a lush paradise but now a desolate wasteland, where he will offer guidance to the Stranger and his companions.
Kinnear shared his excitement about portraying Bombadil, admitting that he was unfamiliar with the character before being offered the role. He will bring his own interpretation to the enigmatic figure, including a Cornish accent to reflect the character’s ancient roots.
