Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Upon watchingLord of the Rings, Harry Potter,andGame of Thrones, we’ve all come across glaring similarities between the three fantasy projects. There’s no doubt that both J.K. Rowling and George R.R. Martin have been deeply influenced by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Particularly,A Song of Ice and Fireauthor has been an outspoken fan of Tolkien’s works.
Therefore, when director Dome Karukoski came up with his 2019 biographical filmTolkien, starring Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins – George R.R. Martin attended the world premiere. Addressing questions and expressing his deep admiration for the author, Martin surprisingly clapped back at Collins after she made a comparison betweenLord of the RingsandHarry Potter.
Admiring J.R.R. Tolkien’s Works George R.R. Martin Took Inspiration from Them
While we’ve all been aware of the similarities betweenLord of the Rings, Harry Potter, andGame of Thrones,George R.R. Martinparticularly admitted deriving inspiration from J.R.R. Tolkien’s works for his novel,A Song of Ice and Fire. Attending the premiere of the 20th-century author’s biographical filmTolkienin 2019, Martin toldVarietyabout his respect and appreciation for the late author.
“My world would never exist had he not come first”: George R. R. Martin Was Humble Enough to Credit The Lord of the Rings Creator For Game of Thrones’ Success
Beginning by stating howhe was deeply inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’sLord of the Rings,George R.R. Martin went on to joke thatA Song of Ice and Fire, started off as a trilogy much like the story about Middle Earth, but ended up being seven books. Thereafter, the American author expressed his appreciation towards filmmaker Dome Karukoski, for making Tolkien’s biographical film “profoundly moving”.
He made me love the form he created – epic fantasy. He redefined fantasy of everything that had been before. I started doing a trilogy called ‘Game of Thrones.’ Now my trilogy is seven books – if I finish the last two.
[The movie was about] Tolkien’s love affair. His friendship. Him as a young man in his university years. And that influences what he would later write.
PraisingNicholas Houltand Lily Collins’ movie for avoiding cliches like highlighting the struggles of a writer, and instead focusing right where it should, George R.R. Martin hailedTolkien. Further, as the interview proceeded, Hoult and Collins spoke about their personal connections to J.R.R. Tolkien and hisLord of the Ringsseries.
George R.R. Martin’s Sharp Retort to Lily Collins’ Admiration forHarry Potter
During the latter half of the interview at theTolkienpremiere, Nicholas Hoult,Lily Collins, and director Dome Karukoski spoke about the research that went into the movie, and each of them offered their individual take on the project. Therein, while Hoult spoke about his interest in the mind of the writer, Collins recalled her poetic experience, landing the role of Tolkien’s wife and muse Edith Bratt.
“I read through gritted teeth, deeply bitter”: Harry Potter Actor Landed One of the Most Evil Roles in Harry Potter While Trying to Actively Sabotage His Audition That Backfired Badly
Claiming to have grown up readingThe Lord of the Rings, which inspired her to audition for Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) in Peter Jackson’sHobbitfilms, Lily Collins expressed her gratitude for finally getting the opportunity to be part of the Tolkien universe. However, despite being a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, Collins later expressed her enduring admiration forJ.K. Rowling’sHarry Potterseries, revealing it as her all-time favorite.
Surprisingly, following Lily Collins’ comments about J.K. Rowling’sHarry Potter,the actress was met with a bold response from George R.R. Martin. After openly acknowledging his deep inspiration from J.R.R. Tolkien’s seminal work, Martin couldn’t take kindly to Collins’ allegiance to the Wizarding World. Addressing her comment, Martin made a bold statement,
Gandalf could kick Dumbledore’s a*s.
George R.R. Martin’s remark had long been a considerable topic of discussion among fans of both literary franchises. Considering how Tolkien’s Gandalf and Rowling’s Dumbledore are two of the most iconic wizards in fantasy literature, fans couldn’t conclude who held more power. However, Martin’s bold comments seemingly asserted the dominance of the late author’s works over Rowling’s.
Perhaps, George R.R. Martin is right, considering J.R.R. Tolkien’s creations served as foundational to the genre’s development. Or it could also highlight the Americanauthor’s grudge against J.K. Rowling, after she triumphed over Martin’sA Storm of Swords, with herHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, at the 2001 Hugo Awards.
Tolkienis available on Prime Video.
Harry Potterfilms are available on Max.
Game of Thronesis available on Max
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3217
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
