Rings Of Power Writer Gennifer Hutchison On The Temptation To Expand The Story East Into Rhûn

When asked about the decision to officially name-drop Rhûn in “The Rings of Power” and set the stage for further adventures in the East of Middle-earth, Gennifer Hutchison was quick to point out what we all know: that Rhûn is a bit of a mystery, even to the Tolkien elite. “That’s a world that exists in the Legendarium,” the writer said, “and we know a little bit about. We don’t really get to see as much in the primary text.”

Hutchison went on to explain that the vague, undefined nature of Rhûn didn’t turn the show’s story creators away. On the contrary, it was a massive selling point that made the enigmatic eastern region an area they had to explore — especially within the more generous storytelling format of a longer, serialized show. “When you’re doing a show that you have that space, it’s such a temptation to go into that world and get the opportunity to expand it since it’s there,” she said. “We love the idea of exploring it.”

Rhûn is primarily known as an area filled with Men, although there are also some Dwarves and Elves in the surrounding areas. The Humans are always vaguely talked about as being under Sauron’s control, and their soldiers fight in the Dark Lord’s armies when they attack Minas Tirith in “The Return of the King.” While certainly a presence, though, Rhûn is always “on the edge” of Tolkien’s tales, and the fact that “The Rings of Power” is planning on taking a closer look opens the doors for plenty of novel Middle-earth stories in the seasons to come.

All eight episodes of “The Rings of Power” Season 1 are streaming on Prime Video.