Making a sequel or prequel to a much-loved movie franchise is a risky business because if you make one wrong move you'll become hated by an entire fandom - just ask Jar Jar Binks.
Now Amazon Studios find themselves in the hot seat after releasing a trailer for their Lord of the Rings prequel at Super Bowl LVI, with some fans left unsure.
Viewers complained that The Rings of Power boasted "bad CGI, lousy casting, and artificial visuals", while others said it felt "generic" and could be a "Star Wars prequel situation".
It was previously reported that Amazon bought the television rights for the Lord of the Rings franchise for £185m ($250m) and that the five series show would be worth at least £740m ($1bn), so expectations are high.
What do you think of the prequel? Let us know in the comments...
In the short clip, a voice can be heard saying: "Haven't you ever wondered what else is out there? There's wonders in this world beyond our pondering - I can feel it."
The video then shows a hobbit-like creature, elves, orcs, and scenery that's definitely Tolkein-ish, which is interspersed with text which reads: "Before the king, before the fellowship, before the ring - a new legend begins this fall."
One scene, that shows a female character climbing an ice cliff with a knife, has been particularly derided by fans, with one saying it looked like it was made on a '1995 Nintendo'.
Taking to Twitter, one user said: "The person hanging by a dagger in ice looks like they are in a 3D animated film? Why does that shot look so bad?"
And another wrote: "Bad CGI, lousy casting, artificial visuals, Narnia movie atmosphere. We will watch how they will disgrace a most loved universe in history with the largest budget in history."
A third simply said: "Hobbit is better than this."
The Rings of Power is set in the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history and is loosely based on Tolkien's The Silmarillion, which is set thousands of years before The Lord of the Rings.
Amazon has said that the series begins in a time of relative peace, and follows characters 'both familiar and new'.
It will be set in the Misty Mountains, the elf capital of Lindon, and the island kingdom of Númenor.
But it appears some artistic liberties are being taken with the plot, and some fans fear that Amazon Studios' creation will not stick to Tolkein's universe as strictly as Peter Jackson did with his trilogy.
Another fan tweeted: "This could be a Star Wars prequel situation.
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"Of course, it will look different - it is another time and not the gritty world of the third age. But it still feels more like a generic show than the second age of Arda. Especially because of the cast and designs."
A second wrote: "It just looks off. Not Tolkienesque."
Meanwhile, a third thought they'd spotted a missing detail, as they asked: "Anyone else thinks the actors and general editing style look way too bright and sharp and clean? Like it feels like an actor in a studio, not a person camping outside, because of the lighting and makeup?
"It doesn't 'feel' right as an aesthetic for high fantasy."
Another wrote: "Please do not denigrate people that are pointing out how c**p this show looks. If you don’t see it, that’s fine; however, it’s blatantly obvious to anyone that appreciates good filmmaking.
"I genuinely hope things change between now and September."
But not everyone hated the trailer and one fan was quick to defend the prequel.
They wrote: "I just cant understand all these people b******g about the show being not perfectly accurate in relation to the books. It's an adaptation, and judging from this trailer - a very good one.
"Just accept you’re not getting what you wanted, but still something good, and you'll be fine."
Another commented: "People are dumb for being so negative about this, it looks so magical and amazing and I cannot wait."
A third wrote: "The cinematography looks amazing. Quit being haters."
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is set to be released on Friday, September 2, 2022.
Amazon Studios has been approached for comment.
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