15 reasons Amazon’s Lord of the Rings will be the next Game of Thrones

9. Amazon can introduce to lots of characters from Tolkien’s work who never showed up onscreen

As much as we hope that old favorites like Ian McKellan’s Gandalf show up in whatever series Amazon chooses to make, we’re excited about the prospect of meeting some all-new characters. The Song of Ice and Fire novels are filled with characters who never made it onto Game of Thrones, and that’s a crying shame. Amazon can make sure it includes everyone it can from Tolkien’s writings.

From Glorfindel, an Elvish warrior who stood toe to toe with the Witch-king of Angmar, to the demigod Tom Bombadil, who treats every day like an episode of Glee, Tolkien’s work is filled with unique and interesting characters who’ve never made it to the big or small screens. Familiar faces are comforting, but also predictable. Characters we have yet to see would breathe fresh life into a world we’ve visited before.

Alternatively, Amazon’s could take the the Tauriel route, which is to say create a completely new character not based on Tolkien’s work; that’s what Warner Bros. did with Evangeline Lilly’s character in the Hobbit movies. That can increase tension. We all knew a character like Legolas would survive Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, no matter how many flying bricks he had to jump across. With Tauriel, the danger always felt real, and it’ll feel that way for any original character Amazon creates. Give us the danger Amazon!