“Amazon Studios’ forthcoming series brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.”
Based on the description, it looks like the series will be a prequel of sorts. It will be a story about the world before the events of The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings, which is great if you enjoy backstories and want to know more about the world that the story takes place in. Given that the books and movies only touched on the backstory briefly, this could help fans fill in the gaps.
There is currently no word on when the series will be released, but it is apparently being planned to run for at least five seasons, with each season lasting for 8-10 episodes. TheOneRing.net reports that the pilot episode has already completed its filming and is currently in post-production.