Concerning Hobbits
Most people nowadays will tell you they grew up with either Star Wars or Harry Potter. For me, the trilogy that truly defined my childhood was The Lord of the Rings.
Seriously, Peter Jackson worked magic with those movies. The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King rank among the greatest films of all time, blending incredible acting, stunning locations, a captivating story, and an outstanding soundtrack by Howard Shore. I’d even argue that it’s the best trilogy ever made, rivaling The Godfather and the original Star Wars trilogy.
Why have we never seen a ride based on The Lord of the Rings in major theme parks like Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios? Even during its peak in the early 2000s, I never heard any rumors about Hobbits or Sauron coming to Hollywood or Florida.
The strange thing is that this franchise practically screams for a theme park! Its beautiful visuals could inspire a land filled with colorful gardens and waterfalls, and there are countless ideas for rides.
Hobbits, elves, dwarves, Oliphaunts... what else?
A roller coaster racing through Mordor, like Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest? Absolutely. A water ride through Rivendell? Sign me up. Or perhaps an indoor adventure, similar to the Indiana Jones ride, where you’re fleeing from the Nazgûl. All of it would work perfectly. Yeah, we could even grab a snack at the Prancing Pony!
Here’s another question: do people still care about The Lord of the Rings nowadays? I was about 17 when I watched Return of the King, and I know that most fantasy lovers in my age group feel a special nostalgia for Frodo, Gandalf, and the rest of the Fellowship. But what about everyone else? Do they even know about the One Ring, Gollum, the Riders of Rohan, or Tom Bombadil? …Actually, never mind. Almost no one knows about Tom Bombadil, and maybe that’s for the best.
I don’t think The Lord of the Rings is dead, not even close. Amazon poured massive resources into creating one of the most expensive TV series of all time, even if the results were mixed. There’s still plenty of room for Tolkien’s world in our lives. Rumors have circulated that a Lord of the Rings land could be part of Epic Universe’s first expansion, but for now, they’re just that - rumors.
Still, I love the idea of an entire theme park land based on the franchise. A portal in Epic Universe leading guests into Middle-earth sounds incredible. Imagine strolling by gorgeous lakes and exploring the Shire. Or perhaps Universal could replace Rip Ride Rockit with an epic roller coaster themed to The Lord of the Rings, with Howard Shore’s iconic score blasting as you ascend Mount Doom. There are so many possibilities.
So, yeah. I think that Harry Potter already had its time in the spotlight. Mario is now deservingly getting a lot of time to shine. Next? Let’s give The Lord of the Rings some love.
