On the occasion of power rings season finale I spoke with Benjamin Walker, who plays Gil-Galad, the High King of the Noldor on the hit show Prime Video, who is also Middle-earth’s most beloved and powerful hero .
Benjamin Walker on Gil-galad in the Rings of Power
Diving further into the character of Gil-galad from power ringsI asked Benjamin Walker if there was a specific moment or even a relationship in the life of the last High King of the Noldor that he really wanted to bring to the screen in future seasons of power rings.
Related: What’s West of Westeros: Rings of Power Can Copy Game of Thrones, To Explore The World Beyond Tolkien’s Middle-earth In Future Seasons
“Oh, you’re slowly pushing me into some really dangerous waters here,” he said laughing. “Well, I’ll say this: if you know Gil-galad, you know he has Aeglos, the mythical orc-slaying spear, basically a nuke from that era, and he kind of keeps it under his bed. It is therefore one of the things that it would be a shame to waste. Am I being vague enough but I also answered your question? » he asked with a laugh, potentially teasing the highly anticipated Battle of the Last Alliance sequence (I could read it, but it wouldn’t be a secret or a spoiler for Tolkien fans and scholars.)
For the record, Aeglos is the powerful weapon of Gil-galad, very feared by the enemy. During the Battle of the Last Alliance, Gil-galad uses Aeglos to defeat Sauron alongside Elendil. By eliminating their enemy, the two kings die. But even if this battle appears in power rings series as it appears in Tolkien’s writings, it’s very unlikely to happen any time soon in the next seasons of power rings.
“I’m glad people like Gil-galad; I feel honored to wear his crown.
Benjamin Walker also mentioned how he handles the pressure of being part of such a beloved and complex story:
“Pressure is how you make a diamond; The pressure doesn’t bother me. No one puts more pressure on me than myself in terms of respect and dedication to Tolkien’s vision. That’s the job. I also really like these characters; they are part of my psyche because I grew up with these books. It was my gateway to fantasy. My brother (…) gave me my first big boy book, which was The Hobbit. I like to live in this imaginary world. It’s basically about light and dark and good versus evil, finding your place in a chaotic world. I’m glad people like Gil-galad; I feel honored to wear his crown.
“He understands that while things may be bleak now, giving up the potential of hope is the death of dreams.”
“Even the darkness must pass, “ a quote from Samwise Gamgee to Frodo, really inspired Benjamin Walker in how he portrayed Gil-galad. He Explain:
“What I like about Gil-galad is that he always plays the long game of hope. You never see him panicking; he constantly anticipates the inevitable resurrection of evil. He understands that while things may be bleak now, giving up the potential of hope is the death of dreams. And that’s the kind of leader I wish I had more of these days, someone who invests in the future. (…) When we come together, we can overcome the worst aspects of life. “
For the actor, being part of Middle-earth must come with a great respect for the original material. He stated that JD Payne and Patrick McKay absolutely require dedication and knowledge of the source material in order to create a series that will satisfy all types of audiences.
“I was nervous when I was offered the job and JD called me to talk about the character and his vision for the show. says Walker. “I couldn’t hear him on the phone; there was a lot of noise in the background; I said, ‘JD, I’m having trouble hearing you. Where are you? ‘ He said, ‘I’m in the hospital. I said, ‘Oh my god, are you okay?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, my wife just had a baby. But the thing with Tolkien is that…’ And I thought, “Well, he’s definitely dedicated.”
Answer if he knew who Sauron was power rings as so many fan theories circulated online, Walker said:
“Well, I know, but like a good Whisky, it’s worth the wait!
He added: “That people are excited is a testament to Tolkien and a testament to the show. The more we can preserve [the secrets], the best. But if anything, that’s the biggest compliment we can get, that people care enough to speculate. (…) It’s worth the wait, I promise.
“All the things you love about books will be there. And then some more…”
Speaking of the future of Gil-galad in power rings and his relationship with Elrond and Elendil in the next seasons of power rings, Benjamin Walker said:
“What’s great is that they have the right to annexes. This beautiful shot of what Tolkien wanted. For example, Celebrimbor, in the appendices, is only a sketch. Charles Edward manages to complement his understanding of tradition and his creative spirit. So all the things you love about books will be there. And then some more…”
Benjamin Walker on his DIAGEO partnership
This collection is inspired by the mysticism surrounding these legendary distilleries, thanks to artists Ken Taylor and Kevin Tong, who designed the labels celebrating the fantasy world.
Opening one of these bottles for the final episode of Season 1 is the best way to celebrate for whiskey/fantasy lover Benjamin Walker, saying he would.”100%” enjoy it when episode 8 is released.
“It’s an interesting partnership because what I do is history. And a good whiskey is an illustration of time and craftsmanship over time. And that’s how our best stories, fantasies and myths grew. (…) We get together, we tell stories, and we drink something really nice.
Related: Anjali Bhimani Talks Ms. Marvel, Critical Role & New Book (EXCLUSIVE)
For Benjamin Walker, there is an interesting parallel between DIAGEO Special Releases and power ringsespecially in episode 8. I told the actor that the fans were going to read between the lines.
“I know, exactly!” he said, laughing.
“A bottle of Talisker will go very well with episode 8; that’s all I’m saying,” he later added.
“The ocean plays such a huge role in our show, especially with Númenor and where Halbrand and Galadriel meet. With Talisker, you can literally taste the ocean, and where the scotch was made, it has so many layers It’s a bit like the show: as soon as you think you understand what’s going on, something else happens! I return to my remarks. I think I’m fine,” ended Walker for fear of spoiling the final episode.
power rings Season 2 is already in production, and Benjamin Walker was already back in Middle-earth just hours before our interview with him. While showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay said last week that it would probably be two years before we could finally watch season 2, now you can enjoy the epic finale of power rings (with a glass of Talisker by order of Gil-galad, High King of the Noldor himself).
Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, TwitterInstagram and YouTube.
Note: If you purchase an independent product featured on our site(s), we may earn a small commission from the retailer. Thank you for your support.
