Lord of the Rings TV series puts out casting call for ‘funky-looking’ and ‘unusual’ actors

If you’re a New Zealander with a ‘bulbous or interesting nose’, you could apply to be in it

A New Zealand talent agency has put out a request for “funky looking” actors to join the new Lord of the Rings TV series.

The high-budget Amazon project is set to resume filming shortly, with production having been postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a post on Facebook, the Auckland-based casting agency BGT asked for actors with attributes such as ”an overbite, face burns, long skinny limbs, deep cheekbones, lines on your face, acne scars, ears that stick out, bulbous or interesting noses, small eyes, big eyes, skinny faces, [or] missing bones”.

No specific role is mentioned. While the post does not currently specify that the role is part of the JRR Tolkein fantasy adaptation, an earlier version of the post said it was written by a “lead booker submitting talent for Amazon’s Lord of the Rings”. It also featured the hashtag “#lordoftheringsonprime”.

In order to apply, actors must supply clear photos of themselves without makeup. The offer is only available to Auckland residents who have the right to work in New Zealand.

BGT has provided extras for Lord of the Rings adaptations before, when Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning film trilogy was shot in New Zealand nearly two decades ago.

According to the New Zealand Herald, production on the Amazon series will begin again in July.

The series is Amazon’s biggest project to date; the rights to adapt the famous fantasy books cost a reported $250m, with many reports suggesting that the series’ budget could reach $1bn (£800m).