The famed friendship between Christian authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien will soon be documented in a new film slated for Easter 2015 release.
"Tolkien & Lewis," an $18 million British film highlighting the longstanding friendship between the two men will be produced by Attractive Films and directed by Simon West (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider; The Expendables 2), and is reportedly is aimed at a faith-based audience.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film studio is describing the movie to be "a drama fantasy set in war-torn Britain in 1941 revealing the faith, friendship, and rivalry between J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis."
The two authors were originally part of the Inklings, a group of Oxford academics who gathered to think and read and argue. Although Lewis and Tolkien disagreed on some theological and literary issues, they were drawn together by their love of myth and legend.
The Oxford graduates also shared a spiritual brotherhood; Tolkien was said to have brought Lewis back to Christ after he fell out of Christianity.
Attractive executive Wernher Pramschufer, however, is quick to note that the film will highlight both the ups and downs of the pair's friendship.
"Lewis becoming the poster boy for Christianity upset Tolkien," said Pramschufer.
"And obsessive genius Tolkien is blocked, terrified of finishing The Fellowship of the Ring, for fear of the strange, psychotic visions which torture him."
Tolkien is best known for his "Lord of the Rings" series, including "The Hobbit, "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," and "The Return of the King." Lewis authored the acclaimed "Narnia" anthology as well as several religious commentaries, including "Surprised by Joy" and "The Great Divorce."
Movie versions of the two men's books have achieved box office success: the first three Narnia movies pulled in about $1.5 billion worldwide, while Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies have earned $4.9 billion. A fourth Chronicles of Narnia movie-initially planned to be The Magician's Nephew but announced last fall to be The Silver Chair-is currently in progress, and the third installment of Tolkien's Hobbit will be released in December.
Currently, Fox Searchlight and Peter Chernin of Chernin Entertainment are working on "Simply Tolkien," a biopic of Tolkien's life which will focus on how his academic career at Oxford and his military service during World War I affected his writing.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, another film, titled "Jack & Tollers," will focus on the friendship of Lewis and Tolkien and is aiming for a 2015 release.
