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MythmakersOxfordCentreForFantasy.org Author: Oxford Centre for Fantasy
Welcome to Season 8 of Mythmakers! Mythmakers is the podcast for fantasy fans and creatives brought to you by the Oxford Centre for Fantasy. We will be exploring fantasy old and new, look at what went into writing your favourite series, learn tips from the experts, and discuss new books, TV shows and films. Mythmakers is brought to you from the city of Oxford - home to many of the world's greatest fantasy writers, from J.R.R. Tolkien and Middle-earth, to C.S. Lewis, creator of Narnia, and the grandfather of them all, Lewis Carroll with his Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The Oxford story continues with outstanding contemporary writers finding inspiration among the ancient buildings, labyrinthine libraries, and gentle river meadows. Ready to jump down the rabbit hole with us to find your next mythmaker? Visit https://oxfordcentreforfantasy.org/ Language: en-us Genres: Arts, Books, Philosophy, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Casting, Colbert and Contracts: Big News of Lotr Films and the Best Way to Get a Book Contract
Episode 35
Thursday, 23 April, 2026
In today’s episode of Mythmakers, we cover three lively topics of discussion. Join Julia Golding and friend of the podcast, Jacob Rennaker, as they begin with the latest casting news for the upcoming prequel film The Hunt for Gollum—hits or misses?Next, they turn to the content challenges surrounding Stephen Colbert’s script for the second Lord of the Rings film currently in development—which we’re calling “the interval.” Rather than focusing on canon, Julia and Jacob explore the storytelling possibilities from a creative perspective.Finally, with Julia having just secured a new contract for a middle-grade fantasy novel, they discuss the best approaches for breaking through in today’s publishing market. What does it really take to get noticed by publishers these days?(00:00) Introduction & Episode Overview(02:00) Casting News for The Hunt for Gollum(08:00) New Characters & Story Speculation (Halvard & Companions)(10:00) Kate Winslet’s Role & Expanding Middle-earth’s Female Presence(16:00) Andy Serkis Directing & Acting Challenges(19:00) Stephen Colbert’s LOTR Film & “The Interval” Concept(26:00) Character Depth: Frodo, Merry & Adaptation Challenges(30:00) Tom Bombadil & Goldberry – Adapting the Unadaptable(38:00) Balancing Tone, Audience & Modern Expectations(41:00) Writing Fantasy Today: Breaking Into Publishing(52:00) Editing Process, Trends & Modern Children’s Publishing(56:00) Final Thoughts & What’s NextFor more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok
