The makers of a forthcoming biopic about JRR Tolkien have stressed their “utmost respect and admiration” for the Lord of the Rings author, after his family distanced themselves from the film.
Fox Searchlight’s Tolkien, starring Nicholas Hoult as the author and Lily Collins as his wife Edith, is out in May.
“While we did not work with the Tolkien estate on this project, the film-making team has the utmost respect and admiration for Mr Tolkien and his phenomenal contribution to literature.”
“Endorsement by the Tolkien family would lend credibility to any divergences and distortions.