Tolkien release date, cast, more: All you need to know about the UNAUTHORISED biopic

A biopic about the author JRR Tolkien has been in development since 2013, despite the fact that JRR Tolkien’s estate has not approved. The movie was directed by Dome Karukoski and written by David Gleeson and Stephen Beresford. Tolkien was the first movie released by Fox since it was acquired by Disney in March 2019. 

When is Tolkien out in cinemas?

Tolkien is playing now in the UK and was released in cinemas on May 3, 2019.

The movie was released worldwide on Friday, May 10, 2019.

In the USA, Tolkien debuted alongside The Hustle and Detective Pikachu.

Development on Tolkien began back in 2013 and had a budget of approximately $20 million.

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Who stars in Tolkien?

The cast of Tolkien includes:

Nicholas Hoult as J. R. R. Tolkien, with Harry Gilby as young J. R. R. Tolkien.

Lily Collins as Edith Bratt, the lifelong love and eventual wife of Tolkien, with Mimi Keene as young Edith Bratt.

Colm Meaney as Father Francis Morgan with Derek Jacobi as Professor Joseph Wright.

Anthony Boyle as Geoffrey Bache Smith, a poet who was very close to Tolkien and killed in World War I, with Adam Bregman as young Geoffrey Smith.

Tom Glynn-Carney as Christopher Wiseman, a man who is socially adept beyond his years and the class clown, who spots Tolkien’s potential and invites him into his social group with Ty Tennant as young Christopher Wiseman.

Craig Roberts as Sam, a soldier Tolkien serves with during World War I, the horrors of which threaten to tear the “fellowship” apart.

Other actors include Patrick Gibson as Robert Q. Gilson, Albie Marber as young Robert Q. Gilson, Pam Ferris as Mrs. Faulkner, James MacCallum as Hilary Tolkien, Guillermo Bedward as young Hilary Tolkien, Laura Donnelly as Mabel Tolkien, Genevieve O’Reilly as Mrs. Smith, Owen Teale as Headmaster Gilson, Samuel Martin as Red Eyed Captain.

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What is the plot of Tolkien?

“Tolkien explores the formative years of the renowned author’s life as he finds friendship, courage and inspiration among a fellow group of writers and artists at school.

“Their brotherhood strengthens as they grow up and weather love and loss together, including Tolkien’s tumultuous courtship of his beloved Edith Bratt, until the outbreak of the First World War which threatens to tear their fellowship apart.

“All of these experiences would later inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-earth novels.”

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Why was the Tolkien movie unauthorised?

On April 23, 2019, the Tolkien Estate released a statement disavowing the film.

The statement read: “The family of J.R.R. Tolkien and the Tolkien Estate are aware of the Fox Searchlight motion picture entitled ‘Tolkien’ that is due for release in May 2019.

“The family and the estate wish to make clear that they did not approve of, authorize or participate in the making of this film.”

The statement further added: “They do not endorse it or its content in any way.”

Tolkien is now playing in cinemas.