TOLKIEN explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school. This takes him into the outbreak of World War I, which threatens to tear the “fellowship” apart. All of these experiences would inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-Earth novels.

The first trailer for Tolkien, Fox Searchlight’s upcoming biopic of the late, great fantasy author, is now here. Thanks to the fantastic Tolkien fan site The One Ring.net, fans can now get the first look at the dramatic retelling of the life of J.R.R. Tolkien. The story will explore Tolkien’s relationships while at school, spending time in his formative years as an author and artist before the horrors of World War I change him and his friends forever. This first trailer does a good job of teasing all sides to this story: The fantasy world that Tolkien imagined, the real flesh-and-blood people around him, and the nightmarish wartime experiences that would go on to shape the forces of evil throughout his books.

Directed by Dome Karukoski (Tom of Finland), and written by David Gleeson and Stephen Beresford, Tolkien is produced by Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, David Ready, and Kris Thykier. The biopic stars Hoult, Lily Collins, Colm Meaney, Anthony Boyle, Patrick Gibson, Tom Glynn-Carney, Craig Roberts, Laura Donnelly, Genevieve O’Reilly, Pam Ferris, and Derek Jacobi. Look for the Fox Searchlight and Chernin Entertainment production in theaters starting May 10th.

Watch the first trailer for Tolkien below: