Middle Earth anthology film series like Star Wars Rogue One?
Could that work for ME universe forward? Standalone young Strider movie, Battle of The North, adaptation of Shadows of Mordor for example?
shareSome such movies are theoretically possible, though adapting a Middle-earth video game into a movie might be a step beyond what is permitted by the existing screen rights. Currently, any filmmaker is limited to what could be adapted from The Hobbit and/or The Lord of the Rings, including the Appendices.
"Hell hath no fury like that of the uninvolved." - T. Isabella
Middle-Earth stories are not only limited by the copyright issues, but by the nature of the stories themselves. If they use material from the late 3rd age or familiar characters, the story is limited by the knowledge that the most important events of these characters lives happen in another film. If they use material from the early 4th age, then any major crisis will diminish the events of LOTR. If they use material from earlier than the late 3rd age, then the characters and settings will be unfamiliar to the mainstream audiences that will need to pay to see the thing.
And again, the adventures of young Aragorn are more suited to a TV series than a stand-alone film, although I'll allow that a game would also work.
“Seventy-seven courses and a regicide, never a wedding like it!
Yes, and there still be the problem of how tell Middle Earth history without touching material from Silmarillion.
That is largely true. For example: I would not want to try to tell the story of the Fall of Númenor without being able to reference material from The Silmarillion. I would probably end up having to create an alternate history to what Tolkien actually wrote. As it is, a movie (or television series) about the Battle of Dale during the War of the Ring or about the errantries and journeys of Aragorn would have to invent a great deal of material to flesh out the plot and characters.
"Hell hath no fury like that of the uninvolved." - T. Isabella
I once sat down and planned out how three spectacular and thrilling movies could be made about the fall of Numenor and the Last Alliance. Of course the copyright and financial issues would make such a thing impossible, but it's a fun topic.
Elendil was the hero of all three films, and if well written and well played, he could be the decent human being at the center of all those literally world-shaking events.
“Seventy-seven courses and a regicide, never a wedding like it!
TheOneRing.net seems to be supportive of future standalone ME movies:
https://www.facebook.com/TheOneRingnet/photos/a.396801514820.175074.6425769820/10154475422054821/?type=3&theater