This is a story of adventure, magic, love, courage, and fellowship — the story of J.R.R. Tolkien's life.

The iconic author of "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" is the subject of a new biopic, "Tolkien," which has released its first teaser trailer. Nicholas Hoult stars as the young writer in his formative years who finds friendship and artistic inspiration in a close-knit group of friends at college. But their "fellowship" is torn apart when they're all sent to fight in World War I.

The movie interweaves the real people in Tolkien's life with his rich imagination, and shows how the author's fantasy world of Middle-earth was shaped by these friendships, by the hellish horrors of war, and by love, in the form of his eventual wife Edith Bratt (Lily Collins).

"Tolkien" opens in theaters May 10.