Harfoots, Hobbits, and YOU on the High Seas
December 23, 2025
Step into Middle-earth with Nori and Poppy!
Your fellowship is setting sail on Comic-Con: The Cruise! The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’s Markella Kavenagh and Megan Richardshave a special message just for you as you get ready to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Get to know more about everyone’s favorite Harfoots before they step aboard Comic-Con: The Cruise with these exclusive Q&As.
2026 marks the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Why do you think the films, and the show you’re on: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, continue to have such a lasting impact in pop culture?
Markella: I think that the themes explored in Tolkien’s writings, including the struggle between good vs evil, fate and free will, the ‘desire for deathlessness’ as he himself put it, hope and despair, enlightenment, uniting against adversity and community through friendship are universal. They are relatable and therefore stand the test of time. I love how themes are explored in a variety of genres, and with Tolkien, how these themes are communicated through the accessible, fun and imaginative world of fantasy. I find it interesting how the genre can be a barrier between real life and made up worlds. How fantastical beings and the realm of fantasy can host real life themes that serve as a mirror or mediation on reality without literally seeing one’s reality on screen by recognizing a certain city or street or phones etc; which might sometimes be too close to home, too confronting to be engaging.
I feel like fantasy can be a form of escapism, yet also through exploring grounded, real life themes in a fantastical context with gripping and entertaining world building, can encourage reflection, and thus lead us to feel more connected to ourselves and each other. Also, I mean. The one liners. Even those who might not read the books or know the ins and outs of every characters’ history might know ‘YOU SHALL NOT PASS !’ Or ‘One Ring to rule them all….’ Or ‘Even the smallest person can change the course of the future’. They’re catchy, they’re fun and they’re meaningful all at once. I could go on!
Megan: For me, at the heart of The Lord of the Rings is a story about adventure, faith, loyalty, and hope in hopeless circumstances (to name a few) which, universally, always makes for a great story. Those themes are timeless and will always be relevant. It’s difficult to believe The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was made 25 years ago–the technical quality of it was at such a high standard and I think that is something that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has also strived to achieve. On our show, the seamless blend of VFX with real life locations, hand made sets and real prosthetics, featuring hundreds of background artists, really allows the quality of the image to leap through the screen, enhancing the story.
What do you think your The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power would say if they had the chance to come aboard Comic-Con: The Cruise?
Markella:I think she’d say “Quick sticks! We have to stop at any sign of adventure!”–which would mean sticking her nose in every corner of the ship and asking to stop off multiple times which I’m sure would be EXTREMELY irritating for fellow passengers haha! I feel like she’d wanna explore everything everywhere!
Megan:I think Poppy would insert herself as a member of the crew and want to help navigate the ship using the stars. For her it would be all about wanting to expand her knowledge and maybe even attempting to learn how to swim!
What surprises do you and your Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power castmate have in “Stoor” for guests during your reunion?
Markella:Uhhhhh, I’d say doing activities together and definitelyyyy some karaoke!
Megan:I think we will be just as surprised as the guests as to what this cruise has in store! This is such a new experience for me–I have no idea what to expect. But I can guarantee fun, laughter, and lots of SPF!
Nori has shown us that a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet. Are you excited to make even more new friends onboard?
Markella: I’d love to make more friends on board ! I always love meeting new people so it’ll be lovely to have a few days getting to know each other.
What three things would someone need to cosplay as Nori?
Markella: I’d say apple seeds, handcrafted jewelery from collected items and a skirt that can be utilized as a shield or for camouflage as a bush!
Megan: I have seen so many wonderful cosplays of Poppy online and at San Diego Comic Cons–it’s always a pleasure to see what characteristics different people find in her! For me, the 3 unique details to her character are the spoon in her belt, her leaf, an acorn headpiece, and a map.
Join these Harfoots on this high seas adventure today! Use code FINAL to get the best deal we’ll ever offer!