J.D. Payne & Patrick McKay have been writing together for nearly 25 years, collaborating on over 20 screenplays, including STAR TREK BEYOND for J.J. Abrams, JUNGLE CRUISE for Disney, and their 2017 Blacklist script ESCAPE.

In season two of their show, THE RINGS OF POWER, Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will.

Building on season one’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity.

In this interview, we talk about their collaborative partnership, the process of pitching the LORD OF THE RINGS series, their approach to adapting Tolkien's work, and balancing the needs of both die-hard fans and new viewers.

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