The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Star Lloyd Owen to Headline RSCs Political

Publish date: 2024-06-02

Lloyd Owen is set to take center stage in David Edgar’s political drama “The New Real” at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).

In this panoramic exploration of modern politics, Owen will embody the role of Larry Yeates, an American political strategist who finds himself embroiled in the presidential campaign of a fictional former communist Eastern European country. The narrative promises to delve into the intricacies of global political maneuvering as Yeates goes head-to-head with his former partner, now working for the incumbent candidate. Their clash is poised to send ripples through the political landscape from Warsaw to Wisconsin.

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The production, helmed by Holly Race Roughan, artistic director of Headlong, is scheduled for a run at The Other Place in Stratford-upon-Avon from Oct. 3 to Nov. 2.

“I’m delighted to be returning to the Royal Shakespeare Company under the new artistic leadership of Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey. David Edgar is one of our greatest playwrights and The New Real is a fantastic addition to all that has gone before. His brilliantly sharp and witty mind has zeroed in on America’s political strategists and the global trail they left behind them and how that’s now coming on home to bite,” Owen told Variety.

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“His timing couldn’t be more on the money, nor the RSC’s brilliant programming of this play in the lead up to the Nov. 5 elections in the U.S. Holly Race Roughan will be directing and has been on my radar for quite a while, so I am really excited to get into rehearsals with her and, indeed, the rest of our excellent cast,” Owen added.

Owen is also set to reprise his role as Captain Elendil in the second season of Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” premiering Aug. 29. Elendil, a pivotal figure in J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythology, is the forefather of Aragorn’s lineage, famously portrayed by Viggo Mortensen in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy.

“Season 2 of ‘Rings of Power’ promises to be a real ramp up from its first outing. Playing Elendil in Tolkien’s epic tale continues to be a source of great satisfaction as the writers and I try to chart a course for this legendary hero from The Lord Of The Rings. How do we grow him from a simple ship’s captain to the leader of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men? This season once again puts those building blocks in place as he is asked to make impossible choices between his faith, his daughter and his own life,” Owen said about his return to Middle-earth.

After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Owen joined the RSC. His notable stage performances include lead roles in “The York Realist” at the Royal Court/Strand Theatre, “Blood & Gifts” at The Lyttelton, and “The Bodyguard” at The Adelphi. He has shared the stage with Diana Rigg and David Suchet in the award-winning production of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and starred alongside Matthew Perry in “The End of Longing” at The Playhouse.

On screen, Owen has made his mark in Bollywood film “Thugs of Hindostan,” “Miss Potter” with Renée Zellweger, and “Apollo 18.” His television credits include the U.K. series “Monarch of the Glen” and his role as Professor Jones in George Lucas’ “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.”

Owen is represented by The Artists Partnership, A3 Artists Agency, Principal Entertainment LA and Personal PR.

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