TOLKIENWrittenbyDavidGleeson(Cowboys&Angels)&StephenBeresford(Pride)Director:DomeKarukoski(TomofFinland,HeartofaLion)ShootsLondonandOxfordfromstartofSeptember.AFox-SearchlightPicture.TOLKIEN is an enchanting look at the early life of J. R. R. Tolkien, his adolescence inBirmingham,andthefiercefriendshipsheformedwhileatKingEdward’sSchoolandlatterlyasaFirstWorldWarLieutenant.Asissooftencommentedon,manyofhisexperiencesinyouth and atwar;went on to form the foundations of his internationally acclaimed, andenduringlypopularnovels.ThefilmtellsthestoryofaboynamedJohn,whobecamethemanthatcapturedourheartsandmindswithhistalesofextraordinaryfortitude,fellowshipandmythology.

JOHN(aged12-15)Alreadyshowingsignsofamasterfulstoryteller.TheyoungJohn’simaginationranwild,oftenre-tellinglegendstohisyoungerbrother,Hilary.Avoraciousreader.Darkhairandwithsharpblueeyes.TheyoungJohnoftenconjuredstoriestotransporttheyoungboysawayfromtheirdaytodayreality.Lookingforanactorwithasimilaraptitudeforstorytelling.John’sfascinationwithphilologybeganfromanearlyage.FulloftrepidationonarrivalatKingEdward’s;hequicklyrevealedhimselfasoneofthebrightestamongsthispeers.Lookingforayoungactorwithanearforlanguages.

HILARY(aged8-10)John’s younger brother. Overwhelmed by an enormous amount of upheaval in theirchildhood,heheroworshipsJohn.EDITH(aged15–19)AyoungwardofthesamefosterhomeJohnissenttoinBirmingham.Atalentedviolinist,andaccomplishedacademicinherwonright–EdithisavictimofEdwardianatitudestofemaleeducationandquietlyenviousofJohnandhisschoolboychums.AlittleolderthanJohn,Edithhelpsopenhiseyestomischiefintheirearlyyears.Thefriendshiptheyformedinchildhood

swiftly became something more than that, and Edith became the sole object of John’saffections from his adolescence and throughout his life. Impish with a beautiful self-assurednessandacertainunpredictablequalitybehindhereyes.GEOFFREYBACHESMITH(aged14-17)Slimandnonsporty.Extremelysensitive,bright.InaweofJohn’sacademicability.ThesonofanenormouslywealthyandinfluentialBirminghamsocietycouple.Heeschewshisparentswishforhimtogointoindustry,insteadfocussinghisattentionsonpoetrywritingpoetry.Wittyandcharismatic.Thesortofyoungmanwhocancharmhiswayoutofanysituation.HeandJohnencouragedeachothertowritethroughouttheirfriendship.ROBERTGILSON(aged14-17)Abrilliantacademicinhisownright;heisslightlyperturbedbyJohn’sarrivalatKingEdward’s.Thesonoftheschool’sheadmaster;heisdesperatetoprovehimselfbothacademically,andontheplayingfields.Aguardedyoungman,keentoimpresshisstrictfather.Johnpresentsanimmediaterival.Feelstheoldestinthegroupoffriends.CHRISTOPHERWISEMAN(aged14–17)Polished,handsome,stylish.Theclassclown.Atalentedmusician.ItisChristopherwhofirstspotsthepotentialinJohnandensuresheenvelopeshimintotheirsocialgroup.Quitethewittiestofthegroup,heissociallyadeptbeyondhisyoungyears.