The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Super Bowl Trailer Revealed

The trailer for "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" premiered during the Super Bowl on Sunday, showcasing for the first time how the massively ambitious new Amazon Prime Video series is bringing J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth to life. The show's 60-second trailer, set thousands of years before Peter Jackson's six feature films based on Tolkien's writings, begins with the kind of awed, longing dialogue that anyone who has seen or read either will recognize: "Have you ever wondered what else is out there?" says the narrator. Beyond our wanderings, there are wonders on this planet. I'm aware of it!"

Markella Kavenagh ("True History of the Kelly Gang") appears to be speaking as a harfoot, an old progenitor of hobbits. The rest of the teaser moves at a rapid pace, displaying a befuddling array of imagery.

The teaser's overall effect is one of scale and scope: With Jackson's movies and HBO's "Game of Thrones," fans have shown a voracious demand for big fantasy storytelling, and this is a massive production that is ready to give it.

At the very least, that is the message Prime Video wants viewers to take in. Nearly nine months before the show's global premiere on Sept. 2, the streamer started an all-out promotional effort for the show, which included a title reveal featuring genuine molten metal poured into grooved wood and 23 unique character posters focusing on the key cast's hands. Amazon spent around $465 million on the first season alone, according to the New Zealand government, on top of the $250 million it paid the Tolkien estate for the rights to make the show.

For Tolkien enthusiasts, it's an exciting time: The current rights holder, the Saul Zaentz Co., said on Feb. 9 that the movie, merchandising, gaming, and live event rights to "The Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit," and other titles written by Tolkien will be auctioned off. The assets are expected to bring in more than $2 billion.

J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, Lindsey Weber, Callum Greene, J.A. Bayona, Belén Atienza, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Bruce Richmond, and Sharon Tal Yguado executive produce "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," which is produced by Ron Ames and Christopher Newman. Director Wayne Che Yip, who is also a co-executive producer, directed alongside Bayona and Charlotte Brändström.