Nicholas Hoult stars as JRR Tolkien in the trailer for the upcoming biopic of the Lord Of The Rings author.

Titled Tolkien, the film explores the writer’s formative years and will also star Lily Collins as his wife, Edith, who served as the inspiration for characters in his books.

The first trailer, released on Monday, features a montage of moments from Tolkien’s life, including his time spent fighting in the First World War.

Later, scenes reminiscent from the British author’s most famous work, The Lord Of The Rings, also appear.

A voice over from Hoult says: “It’s a story about journeys, the journeys we take to prove ourselves. It’s about adventures, it’s about potent magic, magic beyond anything anyone has ever felt before; it’s about what it means to love, and to be loved; it’s about courage; it’s about fellowship.”

Tolkien, who was born in South Africa but raised in Birmingham, is known for his books in the fantasy genre including The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.

He is widely considered one of the most influential authors ever and Hollywood adaptions of his books have grossed billions of pounds worldwide.

Tolkien died in 1973 aged 81. Tolkien is due to be released in the UK on May 3.