The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria opening cinematic
John Rhys-Davies reprises his role as Lord Gimli Lockbearer.
Publisher North Beach Games and developer Free Range Games have released the opening cinematic for cooperative survival crafting game The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, featuring actor John Rhys-Davies reprising his role as Lord Gimli Lockbearer.
Additionally, as a special celebration for Dwarven holiday Durin’s Day on October 17, Rhys-Davies will join YouTube channel Nerd of the Rings for an exclusive interview discussing his role in the game, working with the development team, returning to The Lord of the Rings, and more today at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET.
“It’s always fun to come back and think of the ‘what-ifs,’ and the chance to work on this game is an exploration of one of the what-ifs, isn’t it?” said John Rhys-Davies in a press release. “Actors often create characters out of love and it’s very hard, sometimes, to let them go. Certainly, Gimli is, for me, a character that I really adore, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to reprise him in a different context.”
Free Range Games CEO Chris Scholz added, “Authenticity is a cornerstone of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria and when it came to casting Gimli, there was only one name everyone wanted. It’s been an honor, a privilege, and a dream to have Mr. John Rhys-Davies reprise this iconic role.”
Here is a brief overview of the game, via North Beach Games:
The story of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria takes players beyond the books and into the Fourth Age of Middle-earth, the fantastical world created by J.R.R. Tolkien. Summoned to the Misty Mountains by Lord Gimli Lockbearer, players band together as a company of Dwarves tasked to reclaim the lost spoils from the Dwarven homeland of Moria—known as Khazad-dum or Dwarrowdelf—in the depths below their very feet. Their quest will require fortitude and teamwork, delving deep into the Mines of Moria to recover its treasures and in the hopes of one day restoring them to their former glory.
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is due out for PlayStation 5 and PC via Epic Games Store on October 24 for $39.99 / €35.99, followed by Xbox Series in early 2024. A physical edition will launch for PlayStation 5 on December 5.
Watch the opening cinematic below.