Lord of the Rings Consulting Producer Claims He’s Not Recruiting Dana Schwartz For Amazon’s Upcoming LOTR Series
Lord of the Rings consulting producer Bryan Cogman claims he’s not recruiting She-Hulk writer Dana Schwartz for Amazon’s upcoming Lord of the Rings series.
Cogman recently sparked fears that Schwartz, known for her attacks on South Park, calling for an end to Western canon, and comparing men to Oscar the Grouch, could be getting herself involved in the Lord of the Rings series.
Schwartz had taken to Twitter to indicate that the her time in the She-Hulk writing room had ended and was asking if there was a showrunner or writer who was looking for someone with her skill set.
She wrote, “The She-Hulk room ended so if you happen to be a showrunner looking for a writer who makes jokes and writes books and knows a lot of historical fun facts, hit me up!!!!”
The She-Hulk room ended so if you happen to be a showrunner looking for a writer who makes jokes and writes books and knows a lot of historical fun facts, hit me up!!!!
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) May 5, 2020
Schwartz added, “Also, if you’re an editor who needs a freelancer on a feature, I happen to have a very lowkey social life and a lot of free time at the moment.”
Also, if you’re an editor who needs a freelancer on a feature, I happen to have a very lowkey social life and a lot of free time at the moment
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) May 5, 2020
Cogman responded, “Hi! Yes. Are your DMs open?”
Hi! Yes. Are your DMs open?
— cogman_bryan (@cogman_bryan) May 5, 2020
He then added, “Or you could just DM me. Thanks. Love the podcast, btw.”
Or you could just DM me. Thanks. Love the podcast, btw.
— cogman_bryan (@cogman_bryan) May 5, 2020
Schwartz then responded, “Just followed you : )”
Just followed you : )
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) May 5, 2020
Cogman’s comments and subsequent conversation would be brought to the attention of YouTuber Gary Buechler of Nerdrotic by fellow YouTuber Geeky Candi with the assumption that Cogman was reaching out to Schwartz to bring her onto Lord of the Rings.
Geeky Candi simply wrote, “RIP Lord of the Rings.”
RIP Lord of The Rings @LOTRonPrime @Nerdrotics @heelvsbabyface @DDayCobra @GeeksGamersCom @doomcock pic.twitter.com/24vbVMoa1n
— Candice Marie (@GeekyCandi) May 10, 2020
Buechler would write, “Always available for free consultation Lord of the Rings on Prime.” He then provided his free consultation, “1)Keep Tom Shippey and listen to him at every turn. 2)Honor TOLKIEN’S messages and HIS mythology 3) Do not hire a Dana ‘banish western canon’ Schwartz”
Always available for free consultation @LOTRonPrime
1)Keep Tom Shippey and listen to him at every turn.2)Honor TOLKIEN’S messages and HIS mythology
3) Do not hire a Dana ‘banish western canon’ Schwartz#LOTR https://t.co/gli4QhTpyD
— Nerdrotic (@Nerdrotics) May 10, 2020
Cogman would respond to the comment indicating that he was not looking to hire Schwartz onto Lord of the Rings. He wrote, “Ok. 1) Dana is a terrific writer and a cool person. Also the Western Canon will be just fine.”
He then added, “2) This has nothing to do with LOTR, I’m not the show runner, I’m just a consulting producer. 3) Be nice!”
Ok. 1) Dana is a terrific writer and a cool person. Also the Western Canon will be just fine. 2) This has nothing to do with LOTR, I’m not the show runner, I’m just a consulting producer. 3) Be nice!
— cogman_bryan (@cogman_bryan) May 11, 2020
In a separate follow-up thread, Cogman would detail his work on Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series.
He began, “Okay. A few people have been misinformed or aren’t reading my profile closely. So here goes, just this once… (THREAD)”
Okay. A few people have been misinformed or aren’t reading my profile closely. So here goes, just this once… (THREAD)
— cogman_bryan (@cogman_bryan) May 11, 2020
Related: Marvel’s She-Hulk Writer Dana Schwartz: “Fan Gatekeeping Is A Profoundly Toxic Subculture”
He then explained that he did help the Lord of the Rings writing team get the project off the ground, “I’m a consulting producer on LOTR. The job is exactly what it sounds like. I was involved heavily at the beginning, helping the incredible murderer’s row of writers get the thing off the ground before stepping away to focus on my own shows for Amazon…”
I’m a consulting producer on LOTR. The job is exactly what it sounds like. I was involved heavily at the beginning, helping the incredible murderer’s row of writers get the thing off the ground before stepping away to focus on my own shows for Amazon…
— cogman_bryan (@cogman_bryan) May 11, 2020
He then made it crystal clear that he is not running the Lord of the Rings show, “I’m not running it. I never was running it. I was honored and thrilled and happy to work on it for a spell.”
I’m not running it. I never was running it. I was honored and thrilled and happy to work on it for a spell.
— cogman_bryan (@cogman_bryan) May 11, 2020
He concluded that he is working on his own series, “Now I’m writing movies, developing my own series, and have returned to Twitter mainly to talk movies with my ‘talking movies’ pals. That kind of thing is, by far, the majority of what you’ll experience if you follow me. If that’s not for you, all good!”
Now I’m writing movies, developing my own series, and have returned to Twitter mainly to talk movies with my ‘talking movies’ pals. That kind of thing is, by far, the majority of what you’ll experience if you follow me. If that’s not for you, all good!
— cogman_bryan (@cogman_bryan) May 11, 2020
Although he did leave a caveat that he is still a consulting producer for Lord of the Rings.
I’m still a consulting producer. 🙂
— cogman_bryan (@cogman_bryan) May 11, 2020
Cogman’s original comments came just days before Deadline reported that New Zealand was opening up their country to allow film and TV productions to begin again after the coronavirus pandemic shut down production.
New Zealand Film Commission CEO Annabelle Sheehan stated, “The NZFC’s focus and commitment since the industry hiatus, has been the health and safety of all those who work in the New Zealand film industry and the ongoing sustainability of the wider screen sector. We are heartened and grateful for the hard work and partnership of the guilds who have worked to get this document completed so quickly.”
The document in question is reportedly health and safety production protocols that need to be in place for filming and production to restart.
Related: Rumor: Amazon’s Lord of The Rings Fires Entire Writing Staff – Season 1 Put On Hiatus
However, Deadline reports that the Lord of the Rings series has no plans to return to New Zealand any time soon. They report that the show had originally planned to go into a 4-5 month hiatus following the filming of the first two episodes. That planned hiatus was rolled into the shutdown due to coronavirus.
The first two episodes, being directed by J.A Bayona were not completed although Deadline details the majority of the shooting was finished.
The series has reportedly received a renewal for Season 2 despite not even finishing filming one episode.
“The road goes ever on and on.” #LOTRonPrime https://t.co/ELdcU0n17p
— The Lord of the Rings on Prime (@LOTRonPrime) November 19, 2019
Related: Actress Robyn Malcolm Wants a Female Gandalf for Amazon’s Lord of the Rings TV Series
It is expected to take place in the Second Age.
What do you make of Cogman’s comments regarding Dana Schwartz? Do you believe him?
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