Tolkien: Nicholas Hoult plays Lord of the Rings writer in EXCLUSIVE clip from biopic movie

Tolkien, directed by Dome Karukoski, stars the X-Men favourite as the titular author, who penned The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

In a new exclusive clip, he can be seen raising a toast with Geoffrey Bache Smith (Anthony Boyle), Robert Q. Gilson (Patrick Gibson) and Christopher Wiseman (Tom Glynn-Carney).

The group banters over a moustache, but there’s clearly a lot of unsaid tension in the air as war looms.

Watch the scene above.

The synopsis of Tolkien reads: “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.”

Also starring in the film are Lily Collins as Edith, plus Colm Meaney, Derek Jacobi and Pam Ferris.

Speaking to TooFab earlier this month, Hoult said: “Reading the script gave me a lot of insight into the man behind the work, the relationships that were meaningful and sculpted who he was and gave him the platform to create what we all see and love outside of that.”

Edith is believed to have inspired characters like Arwen and Luthien in LOTR.

“We have moments of that, Lilly in the forest, dancing, direct nods to his work,” Hoult added.

“I didn’t know he fought during World War I and he always says it wasn’t an allegory for Mordor and the worlds he created, but there’s obviously similarities at times.

“Also his sheer knowledge and love of language was something I was inspired by and everything he overcame in his life, being orphaned at a young age, not being gifted with the right to great education or wealth through family and really having to fight to create a path for himself.”

Hoult was recently also seen in critically acclaimed gem The Favourite, and will soon be seen in X-Men: Dark Phoenix.

Meanwhile a new TV series based on The Lord of the Rings is in the pipeline – believed to be the most expensive TV show ever made.

Tolkien is out on May 3 in the UK.