20-Part Fantasy Series That's Lord Of The Rings Meets The Witcher Launched An Oscar Nominee's Career

Published Jul 26, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT Memory Ngulube joined Screen Rant in April 2024 as part of the Movies and TV team. Since then, she has written for the Perennials and Streaming team, covering a wide range of topics from new releases to old movies and TV shows. Memory is currently a Classic TV writer. Before joining Screen Rant, Memory was a freelance copywriter who specialized in email marketing and social media management. While she enjoyed her job, her true passion was always movies and TV. When she isn’t writing for Screen Rant, Memory can be found reading, baking (which is one of her passions), or watching her favorite K-drama. 2016 was a great year for fantasy TV, with a wide array of genre shows making their debut. Some of these series, like The Good Place, received global recognition, while others have slowly seeped out of the audience’s memories. Among that year’s releases is a two-season fantasy saga that seamlessly blends the lore of The Lord of the Rings with the dark creatures of The Witcher. This series didn’t just tell a compelling fantasy story, but it quietly became a launching pad for one of Hollywood’s most promising talents, who would later go on to earn an Oscar nomination. Much like other shows in the genre, The Shannara Chronicles’ narrative includes the chosen one trope. The series is set in a distant future where three teenagers embark on a quest to vanquish a demon intent on destroying the Four Lands. The fantasy show was adapted from Terry Brooks’ book series; as such, there were high hopes that it would become a big name in the genre. However, The Shannara Chronicles was canceled after two seasons due to low ratings. The Shannara Chronicles played a major role in transforming Austin Butler from a familiar face in teen dramas into an actor capable of carrying a major fantasy series. Although Butler had already appeared in shows such as Wizards of Waverly Place, Jonas, Zeke and Luther, Switched at Birth, and The Carrie Diaries, his role as Wil Ohmsford in The Shannara Chronicles gave audiences their first look at his potential as a leading man. The Shannara Chronicles Is The Lord Of The Rings x The Witcher, But For Teens Similar to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, The Shannara Chronicles features ancient races, powerful artifacts, and a battle between light and darkness that threatens the world. However, instead of focusing on seasoned warriors and legendary heroes, The Shannara Chronicles places young characters at the center of its conflict, thereby making the story feel like a coming-of-age adventure. Although they are two completely different shows, the influence of The Lord of the Rings can be seen throughout the series, from its world-building to its characters. The Four Lands in The Shannara Chronicles are filled with elves, trolls, and other supernatural creatures similar to those found in Middle-earth. The show’s epic adventure also feels familiar. Like Frodo, Aragorn, and the Fellowship, Wil Ohmsford, Amberle Elessedil, and Eretria are pushed into extraordinary circumstances. The Shannara Chronicles also has The Witcher-style elements, particularly its dark creatures, similar to those found in the Netflix fantasy show. The Witcher is beloved for the adventures Geralt goes on, and The Shannara Chronicles has similar themes which are brought to life differently. The biggest way the two shows diverge is their tone. While The Witcher embraces darker themes, The Shannara Chronicles filters these ideas through a teen-friendly lens. Austin Butler Rose From YA Fantasy To The Oscars In Just A Few Years Following his role in The Shannara Chronicles, Austin Butler’s career went from strength to strength. Butler’s performance in the fantasy TV show is what made audiences begin to take him more seriously as an actor due to the gravitas he brought to his character. In more ways than one, The Shannara Chronicles marked a turning point as he was no longer just a supporting player in teen dramas. From there, Butler starred in movies and TV shows that would make him worthy of an Academy Award nomination. Notable Austin Butler Movies and TV Shows Movie/TV Show Character Release Year The Carrie Diaries Sebastian Kydd 2013 The Shannara Chronicles Wil Ohmsford 2016 Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood Tex Watson 2019 Elvis Elvis 2022 The Bikeriders Benny 2023 Dune: Part Two Feyd-Rautha 2024 Caught Stealing Hank Thompson 2025 His performance as Tex Watson in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood was brief but impactful, and showed just how far he had come since his YA fantasy days. The real breakthrough, however, came when the actor starred in Elvis as the iconic King of Rock and Roll. Butler fully immersed himself in the role, with his portrayal of the legendary rock star being hailed as his best by critics and audiences alike. This role earned him widespread acclaim, culminating in an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Since then, the actor's portfolio keeps growing with appearances in Dune, The Bikeriders, Eddington, and Masters of the Air. Thanks to The Shannara Chronicles, Austin Butler has become one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. Release Date 2016 - 2017-00-00 The Shannara Chronicles follows Amberle Elessedil, Wil Ohmsford, and the last Druid, Allanon, as they embark on a dangerous quest to protect the Ellcrys, an ancient magical tree that seals away a horde of demons. When the tree begins to die and the barrier between worlds weakens, the trio must unite the peoples of the Four Lands before the demons are unleashed upon the world.