Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos addresses criticism that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series is just a cash grab. Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years prior to the events of The Hobbit, the upcoming Prime Video series will explore a very different version of J.R.R. Tolkien's world than has been seen on screen before. Over a planned five seasons, the show will chronicle a number of key events, including Sauron's initial rise to power.

While Lord of the Rings fans have been eager for Rings of Power season 1 to release on September 2, high expectations have led to worry among the fanbase that the show will not live up to Tolkien’s storytelling. Multiple actors from the Lord of the Rings franchise have wished Rings of Power the best of luck, but there are no returning actors on the show, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy director Peter Jackson was not consulted for the series. Instead, much attention has been paid to the show's enormous pricetag, which would make it the most expensive television project ever made if it finishes out its five-season run.

Related: The Rings of Power Can Address A Gimli Complaint From The LOTR Movies

However, Bezos himself tells TIME in an email exchange that Prime Video's interest in the show is far more than economic. He ensures viewers that everyone involved in Rings of Power knows the stories of The Lord of the Rings and are putting their hearts into it. Read Bezos' full comment below:

Middle-earth is such a beloved world, and telling the story of the forging of the Rings of Power is a privilege and a responsibility. I hope we do Tolkien’s work justice. It goes beyond making a commercially successful show. Everyone working on the show read these stories as kids and our hearts are in it.

Elrond LoTR Rings of Power

Bezos’ comments echo those of many fans and film industry leaders, who all seem to have faith in the Rings of Power’s showrunners and actors. It has also been comforting for audiences to see positive remarks about the show from past actors like Martin Freeman and Dominic Monaghan, who, like Jackson, wish the show luck and look forward to viewing it themselves. Jackson said he’ll be watching Rings of Power as a perfectly neutral viewer, so it will be interesting to see if he comments on the show after its release.

While it is frustrating when a series or film is only available on a certain streaming platform, Rings of Power seems to be in good hands at Amazon, with the success of other Prime Video originals like The Boys and Bezos’ comments about those involved with the show. Audiences should also rest easy and just wait to see the show for themselves, because, based on the Rings of Power Middle-earth images released so far, the show seems to be breathing life back into Tolkien's world with new and old characters and stunning settings. Like Jackson, viewers with lofty expectations should watch the show with an open mind and remember that everyone involved in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is just as invested as they are.

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Source: TIME