The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit both generated a large fan base, some of which were already dedicated followers of the stories, from reading the remarkable original novels by J.R.R Tolkien. Each new film caused fans to predict what was to happen and the new series has had the same amount of anticipation. There's already been some great reactions on twitter to The Rings Of Power.
Whilst some theories are based on speculation brought on by promo videos, other theories are pretty strange with some random contributions from Redditors, that make for an interesting read!
Sauron Wasn't Always Evil
As audiences know him, Sauron is the source of evil and one of the most powerful beings in The Lord Of The Rings, bringing destruction to middle-earth and all it's beings. So it would be hard to imagine the watchful eye being portrayed as anything else.
However, Redditor bgnz85 took information from one of Tolkien's letters and stated "Maybe he starts trying to influence different peoples to act in unison for the greater good. Over time his hopes are frustrated...and from there Sauron begins his long ruinous path back to evil." Whilst the theory depicts something from Tolkien himself, it still is a little wild to imagine Sauron as good in any way. Viewers may not take kindly to a sympathetic back story, but then again if done well, it could work.
Similarities Between Galadriel and Daenerys
Letting common ground be found between The Rings Of Power and any other fiction would surely be a mistake and wild disservice to Tolkien's creation. However, Reddit user RookieReaper asked "Does anyone else have a feeling that Amazon's Galadriel character arc is going to be like HBO Daenerys from GOT [[Game of Thrones]]."
The suggestion that Galadriel (the best elf in The Lord Of The Rings) would follow a similar path to Daenerys could come to fruition. But as with the whole creation, Galadriel is so unique that surely it would be weird to portray her with any commonality between a character from another world, or maybe it's inevitable for it to happen at some point.
A Lot Of The Hobbits
As seen with The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit, the stories are so extensive that the films are long in duration, because there is simply so much detail to cover. With a lot of information to be included, The Rings Of Power is set to have 5 seasons and Redditor BehemothM believes "One third of the series will be about hobbits."
It's a pretty outlandish theory considering the amount of history there is (especially if the series is taking much inspiration from the Silmarillion.) A third is a large chunk to focus solely on one component, but perhaps if audiences have responded the best to hobbits, it could be the way to go.
Quick Introductions
Both Tolkien's books and the following film productions require concentration from the viewer but also clear explanation from the creators, to make sure each element is understood. Rushing any essential part leaves room for misconception of the plot lines.
Speaking of the initial episodes, reddit user MrB-60-72 thinks "...they're going try to fit a bunch of background sh** in 5 min or so and everyone's gonna be like, wait what so, what?" It would be a great shame to have any part of the narrative compressed into an incomprehensible segment of the series, which could potentially dilute the brilliance of Tolkien's work. Having said that, it would be near impossible to get every aspect into the series with a good amount of screen time.
Character Compression
There is an extremely large cast of characters from Tolkien's world, all of which have their place firmly in middle-earth. Each one is very well thought out and integral to the plot line.
In a similar vein to the question of whether parts of the film will be rushed or without deep explanation, Reddit user dudeseid asked "Do you think they'll potentially compress characters? Personally I wouldn't be suprised..." To combine characters into one role would be a wild move, as each one is so detailed it would be a hard task. Personalities are individual but in the case of productions, it's sometimes the only viable option to fit everything into the series.
Casting
As part of the hype around any new and much anticipated show, audiences are always interested in (and eager to know) who has been cast for each part.
Reddit user sillywabbit321 said "I wouldn't be surprised if they include at least one A-lister..." A lot of the cast has already been announced, but there could still be room for a well-known actor to take up a role. Although there were big stars used in The Lord Of The Rings, it's still an interesting theory, as well-known actors might distract from the characters personas, whereas fresh artists would be more believable in the roles.
Sauron For Mayor
Although a complex narrative, there are some plot twists that most viewers would be quite certain wouldn't happen. For others, stranger things have happened and their theories get controversial.
Redditor lizardspock75 has the theory "Sauron stops his wicked way and becomes mayor of the shire. He's a simple man trying to live a simple life." It's a clear fact that Sauron is not a simple character, nor does he wish to live a calm and docile life. He's one of Frodo's most powerful enemies, so it's a wild theory. But artistic license is sometimes the reason for major, wacky plot twist predictions.
Comparison To The Lord Of The Rings
It's inevitable that the upcoming series will be compared to The Lord Of The Rings films and even The Hobbit. Audiences expectations will be set by what they have previously seen, but for some it doesn't mean The Rings Of Power will necessarily be great.
When speaking of The Lord Of The Rings, Redditor inonuffin thinks "...it's a really high bench mark that any TV series would struggle to compare with." The hope is that the series will of course do Tolkien's work justice and it's crazy to think any production company would embark on the project with a vision that's less than perfect. It could be thought that having the trilogy as a start point would make it easier for any following film or series, but not everyone believes so.
Makeup and Costume
It wouldn't be ridiculous to think that the aesthetic of the promo trailer would reflect what's to come in the series, in terms of set, costume and makeup.
But for some fans, they think the series will have a different look to what's been shown. Redditor MurielHorseflesh believes "I'm sure things will look a little more lived in on screen." Whilst the actual theory isn't the wildest, it's a strange concept for the production to give a slightly different aesthetic in the promotional videos, when giving a truer image could actually excite fans more than to see a glossy, cleaner look.
Captain Spock Crossover
The crossover of two major fictional worlds is yet to be seen on television or the big screen and it doesn't seem feasible, especially with the likes of The Rings Of Power.
But that doesn't stop some fans from letting their imaginations run free to produce weird theories. Redditor Alpha-Chino-1989 predicts that Arondir is "...a lost member of Captain Spock crew." Aside from the pointy ears, there isn't much of a link between the two worlds, but what a show that would be!