‘Fellowship’ Movie Explores Friendship of Tolkien and Lewis
Few Christian authors of the 20th century have had greater impacts on culture than J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Millions of readers around the world continue to enjoy Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” and Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia.” But many may not be familiar with their friendship.
Angel Studios will share the stories of both authors and the powerful influence they had on each other’s work in the upcoming film “Fellowship,” which is scheduled to be released in 2026. Director Paul Syrstad said the movie will focus on the role that their friendship played in shaping their literary masterpieces. “It’s an incredibly freeing and liberating experience working with Angel Studios. The rate that they’re growing, it’s incredible and it’s really exciting to be part of that,” Syrstad said in a recent interview.
“The beautiful premise of it is, without each other, neither would have completed their greatest works,” Syrstad told Crosswalk Headlines. “You know, Lewis was convinced of Christianity by Tolkien, and without that, we wouldn’t have gotten the wonderful works in Narnia. But also, Tolkien was quite set on finishing [his works] at The Hobbit and kind of putting the full stop there.
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“But Lewis was one of the ones who really impressed upon him to keep going and to actually take all of his scribbles and pull them together into the cohesive great work that is `The Lord of the Rings.’ So if either of them failed, their masterpieces would not have been a blessing to the world.” Syrstad also shared, “This is the story of a legendary friendship—and the cost of it,” in the film’s official announcement.
Angel Studios has described “Fellowship” as a “testament to the power of friendship and what it means to truly champion one another’s gifts.” Syrstad has also emphasized, “One major theme of Fellowship is not to give up on friendships,” when discussing the movie’s focus. The studio highlighted the unique perspective of the film, stating, “This film offers a peek into the minds behind the classics like ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Chronicles of Narnia.’”
Lewis died in 1963, and Tolkien died a decade later in 1973. Their works, however, have endured, leaving a lasting legacy not only through their novels but also through modern theatrical adaptations. One major theme of `Fellowship,’ Syrstad said, is not to give up on friendships.
“In an age where facts are debated and meaning feels fleeting, `Fellowship’ offers something rare: a story grounded in authenticity, courage and the kind of connection that calls us to something higher,” Angel Studios wrote in a summary of the film.
For more information about “Fellowship” and other Angel Studios releases, visit www.angel.com
–Alan Goforth
