Rings Of Power’s Ismael Cruz Cordova Calls Priyanka Chopra, India’s National Treasure

It is time to head back to Middle Earth, under an ominous dark cloud with the arrival of the Dark Lord Sauron, in his human form. It has been nearly two years since the big reveal from The Rings of Power, season 1 when audiences were introduced to Sauron, a shapeshifter and master manipulator, driven by his strong desire to control Middle Earth and its many inhabitants.

Prime Video's glossy fantasy series, is set thousands of years before the events of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings. The story focuses on the Second Age of Tolkien's Middle Earth, a time which has remained unexplored on screens until now. Apart from the wordsmith's expansive source material, the show has been primarily built from the appendices of his books. Creating and reimagining what this vast and myriad world shows co-creator JD Payne, a self-confirmed fan of the Tolkien universe, confesses it is his most challenging gig ever.

"We took it one day and each task at a time. From writing the storyline, sometimes it is seeing the entire episode arc or one character. The reconstruction of creating a world as vast as this, brings its challenges as well as creative opportunities," says JD Payne

As we once again revisit the world of the elves, orcs, humans, harfoots and humans, one not only meets several iconic characters but several non-canonical characters as well. Australian actor Charlie Vicker who plays Sauron the primary antagonist as well as the titular "Lord of the Rings" says "There is a reason that Tolkien is loved by millions of people around the world, since his world is so enduring and timeless. For me, the main intent was to approach our character with love and commitment."

This is perhaps the first time on screens one gets to see the face-off between Sauron, and Charles Edwards's Celebrimbor. Charles Edwards notable for his performances in shows such as "Downtown Abbey", and the Crown says "I was excited that both Charlie Vickers and I were getting to put on screens or for that matter in any adaptation the Sauron and Celebrimbor dynamics. When season 1 ended I was just excited to start season 2, because here is when the narrative takes a turn."

Megan Richards's Poppy Proudfellow and Markella Kavengah 's Nori Brandyfoot, are the two harfoot characters who have been specially created for the show. Botn actors admit that the show gave them a canvas to explore their craft, as well as evolve as actors.
"I have never done season two of anything, and neither do I have the experience of coming back to a series after some time. I had to trust myself as a performer and take it through from season one to another. It was like rebuilding her and finding her in the process,'' says Megan Richards.

Markella Kavengah says apart from picking up from where they had left, she had to think and imagine what would have been her characters' journey in between the gaps. "In these two years, we all grew up as people and actors, also the creators were very open for us to share our perception of what we thought our characters would be like and imbibe the same in the show."

19-year-old Tyroe Muhafidin who plays Theo, says the creators made it easy for him to navigate around his character, who like many others has found life in the show. "They gave us too much depth and understanding of what these characters could be. But it takes a long time to understand the character and then one gets used to it."

Representative Casting

On the other hand, Puerto Rican actor Ismael Cruz Còrdova's Silvan Elf Arondir may have been designed for the show, but it was his casting which highlighted the show's diverse and inclusive world. Becoming the first actor of colour to play an elf, Còrdova ays he found Tolkien's world to be very representative. "I come from a very humble and poor community in Puerto Rico, and with barely any amenities, I developed a strong bond with nature.

The same feeling was enhanced when I saw Tolkien, the message that how humans and nature were interconnected and not separate from each other, struck a chord with me. For the Elves nature is paramount, its mother, I found kinship with these beings and felt represented as well spiritually and ideologically, yet not in a visual way."
Còrdova divulges being a huge fan of Bollywood, he had a fanboy moment when he worked with Priyanka Chopra on "The Bluff". Calling the actor 'India's national treasure, he says Priyanka Chopra is an incredible actor. I was a fan of her's before we were signed up for The Bluff.

She is the epitome of what an artist and a leader should be and her humanity. She is charismatic and is just on the go, she does all her stunts by herself and is very inclusive. I sneak a Bollywood film regularly into my schedule, I love the genre, and it is on top of my Bollywood search. My favourite is the dance sequence Ping from Baji Rao Mastani.

Catering to fans old and new

Charlotte Brandstorm who helmed the recent hit Shogun and whose directorial credits also include "The Witcher" and "Outlander", takes the job of executor of the Rings of Power. But the path of catering to fandoms old and new, can be a tough haul. Tolkien's devout fandom, and those safeguarding the sanctity of his world, are not easy to please.

"I think it's like finding a balance and a fine line between everything. You pay attention to the fan base, to everything that's being said, and then you try to do something that works, says Charlotte Brandsotom.

Actors Cynthia Addai Robinson who plays Mirel and Trystan Gravelle who plays Pharazon, say the focus needs to be on the story first, and then the rest. "I think you have to serve the story first and foremost. It's easy to get distracted by what everyone wants it to be or thinks it should be. But I think you have to serve both audiences. So absolutely, we have all of the characters that are known, the easter eggs for loyalists and fans who know this intimately. But, then some have never read the books or watched the films. I want them to be able to understand and follow them. I think you can service both audiences, says Cynthia. Trystan Gravelle further adds "I think we can all relate to it, since it's a very heterogeneous world. It's also a fantastical world and in fantasy, you can not only lose yourself, but you can imagine yourself as being a better version of yourself. So you can maybe right some wrongs in your imagination, that sort of allows you to do this with this show."

The Rings of Power Season 2 is currently streaming on Prime Video.