Pirmosios ekranizacijų idėjos
„Do not laugh! But once upon a time (my crest has long since fallen) I had a mind to make a body of more or less connected legend, ranging from the large and cosmogonic to the level of romantic fairy-story... The cycles should be linked to a majestic whole, and yet leave scope for other minds and hands, wielding paint and music and drama. Absurd.“
– Dž. R. R. Tolkinas (iš laiško Milton‘ui Waldman‘ui)