Amazon's "The Lord of the Rings" TV series is marching steadily forward, hiring "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" director Juan Antonio (J.A.) Bayona to helm the first two episodes of the massive and pricey fantasy drama.

"The Lord of the Rings" series is set many years before the films during the Second Age, which spans 3,000 years and ends with the first downfall of the evil wizard Sauron (an event that is briefly touched upon in a prologue in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy).

Potential storylines could follow Sauron's rise to power, humans and elves banding together in the Last Alliance, the destruction of Númenor, and the forging of the rings of power.

The series is written by feature film writers JD Payne and Patrick McKay, who are also working with "Game Of Thrones" veteran Bryan Cogman in a consulting role.

“J.R.R. Tolkien created one of the most extraordinary and inspiring stories of all time, and as a lifelong fan it is an honor and a joy to join this amazing team,” Bayona said.

“I can’t wait to take audiences around the world to Middle-earth and have them discover the wonders of the Second Age, with a never before seen story.”