Exclusive: The Rings of Power’s Robert Aramayo, Charles Edwards on taking part in Elrond and Celebrimbor

We’re days away from the highly-anticipated launch of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The latest addition to the sprawling LOTR franchise is a prequel to Peter Jackson’s  Lord of the Rings movies and The Hobbit. Set hundreds of years earlier than the movies, the present will take followers into the Second Age of Middle-earth. Created by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, it brings collectively some acquainted characters together with a number of new names and unseen terrains because it explores all the pieces that went into the creation of the Rings of Power. The massive ensemble forged consists of Robert Aramayo as Elrond, a half-Elven character we’ve seen earlier than and Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor, a grasp smith. 

In an unique interview forward of the present’s launch, the actors opened up about their characters, taking part in out quiet moments amidst large set items and taking place the rabbit gap of Tolkien theories. 

The Rings of Power pulls you again into Middle-earth. What was that pinch-me second on the units like for you? 

Robert: It was a cover of pinch-me moments haha. There is quite a bit on this present. You are blown away by the set or an actor or a fancy dress or one thing inventive. The artwork division is superb. Their potential to rework an already lovely New Zealand, it is simply too superb for phrases. So yeah, there have been quite a lot of these moments. 

Elrond has been portrayed in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies earlier than. Did you’re taking any cues from that efficiency or did you wish to break free from that?  

Robert: I actually wished to discover his previous and historical past, the issues which have come earlier than the Elrond that we meet in films – his father, his mom and his brother who achieves unimaginable issues. He’s an orphan. Charles and I additionally share a form of connection to the sons of Fëanor on this actually attention-grabbing approach that we acquired to speak about fairly a bit. So I feel diving into the previous was an excellent place to start. 

Charles, your character forges the Elven rings and he is manipulated by Sauron however little or no is thought about him. What was your strategy of researching for this function? 

Charles: Well, you begin with what Tolkien has written which is not very a lot. Celebrimbor is talked about within the Lord of the Rings on the council of Elrond. He mentions him when he is recounting the story of the forging of the rings of energy and Celebrimbor additionally made what contributed to the creation of The Doors of Durin in Moria. Other than that, there are solely two mentions within the Lord of the Rings that he will get. But in Tolkien’s appendices, once we additional go into the Second Age which is the place our present takes its inspiration from, he has been sketched out a bit additional. So you will have a fundamental define however even Tolkien’s variations contradicted one another as he does with many different issues. To me, that is very thrilling – that there’s not one model that it’s a must to adhere to. There’s definitely scope to take what Tolkien implies and run with it. So that is been a really satisfying expertise for me. 

The Rings of Power has all these visually beautiful moments. When you are on set what’s your course of of constructing your efficiency shine amidst all the massive set items? Robert: The visuals actually make it easier to. Obviously, you do not wish to get misplaced in them however we have spoken quite a bit about Celebrimbor’s workshop which vastly helped the scenes the place Charles and I have been working collectively. Obviously, most elements have been what Charles was doing and responding to that. But the set itself is simply breathtaking and so detailed. 

Charles: And to make sure that what you mentioned did not occur, Robert and I did quite a lot of scenes collectively and we established a really shut reference to one another and stored to the reality of what we have been taking part in. Because what you overlook is that sure, there are big set items however while you’re doing the scene the digital camera is true right here so whereas there’s a lot within the background while you’ve acquired a quiet scene or a tense scene to work with the digital camera could be very a lot with you. So that fear did not come up an excessive amount of for me. 

There is quite a lot of anticipation across the present. Have you had the prospect to dabble in fan theories and reactions? 

Robert: I used to go down the rabbit gap of Elrond, years in the past earlier than I clearly knew that I’d be taking part in him. I used to all the time be keen on sure choices that he made within the Legendarium so I’ve been down these rabbit holes and so they’re very pleasant. I attempt to keep away from them now however now I understand how pleasant it’s to make your individual choices and that is what I like about Tolkien – everybody’s acquired a really distinctive perspective primarily based on their opinion of what they’ve learn. And one opinion could be as astounding as one other and so they may very well be fully contradicting one another. 

Charles: And it is all good as a result of all of it comes from ardour. We have the eagerness and so do the followers. And sure, heated arguments are all the time inevitable when there is a subject like this to speak about so it is all good. 

If you hadn’t bagged these roles, which Tolkien characters would you wish to play and why? 

Charles: I all the time wished to play Sam within the Lord of the Rings. When I used to be little, I used to be very taken by him. But now, I do not assume I’m fairly proper for him haha. But that was the one I all the time wished to play. 

Robert: I all the time appreciated this hero from the First Age referred to as Beleg Strongbow who’s a really great character, a Sindarin Elf. And fairly a couple of tragic issues occur to him however he is an actual Elven hero. I actually loved studying about him. 

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is about to launch on September 2