Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies
Decades have passed since the monumental destruction of the One Ring and the glorious crowning of King Elessar, portrayed once again by Viggo Mortensen. Throughout these passing years, Middle earth has flourished under a golden era of unprecedented peace, healing, and prosperity. In the quiet comforts of the Shire, Samwise Gamgee, played by Sean Astin, is now proudly serving his final term as the beloved Mayor, living a tranquil and happy life surrounded by his incredibly large and joyous family.
However, the dawn of the Age of Men comes with a heavy and undeniable cost. The gradual fading of Elven magic and the departure of the immortal beings have slowly drained the ethereal protection from the realm, leaving the lands unknowingly vulnerable to a terrifying new threat. Far beyond the sight of the newly built cities, an ancient and primordial darkness is beginning to stir deep beneath the frozen, ruined fortress of Angmar. When a mysterious and deadly plague composed of living shadows begins sweeping violently across the northern borders of the kingdom, Aragorn is forced to realize a grim truth. The lingering remnants of Sauron and his malice were not the only horrors sleeping quietly in the dark, forgotten corners of the world.
Desperate to protect the fragile peace that he and his allies fought so hard and sacrificed so much to build, the aging King must call upon his oldest and most trusted friends. Answering the call to arms, Legolas, played by Orlando Bloom, and Gimli, played by John Rhys Davies, return from their respective established colonies in Ithilien and the Glittering Caves to stand beside their King and brother in arms one last time.
This legendary trio is joined by a new generation of fierce warriors. Aragorn and Arwen share a son, Prince Eldarion, portrayed by Timothee Chalamet, who is impulsive and untested but possesses a valiant spirit and highly skilled combat abilities. They are also guided by a fierce, enigmatic ranger of the North, played by Florence Pugh, who holds the ancient, closely guarded knowledge required to permanently seal the awakened chasm from which the darkness flows. Meanwhile, Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, brought to life by Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd, ride forth from their esteemed positions of honor in Rohan and Gondor. They take it upon themselves to rally the armies of the free peoples once more, proving to the world that even in this newly dawned Age of Men, the Hobbits remain the bravest and most loyal of all creatures.
Trading the sprawling, deeply magical, and mythic quests of the past for a gritty, incredibly high stakes battle to defend the very future of the world, the reunited heroes must embark on a perilous journey into the treacherous, icy wastelands of the far North. This grueling expedition pushes every single member of the fellowship to their absolute physical and emotional limits, testing their resolve in the face of absolute despair. The film culminates in a spectacularly crafted, practical effects driven siege against a terrifying horde of awakened nameless things that have crawled forth from the deepest abysses of the earth. The Fourth Age is a breathtaking and monumental return to the beloved cinematic landscape of Middle earth. It beautifully and thoughtfully explores the bittersweet nature of human mortality, the incredibly heavy burdens that come with leadership, and the enduring, unbreakable bonds of a fellowship that easily transcends the boundaries of time itself.
