They are probably hoping this is season 1 of 10 of a breakout show. Impossible to do that if you use famous actors in season 1 (unless they die in season 1 like Sean Bean in Game of Thrones) because they will all be demanding untenable salaries by season 3 killing the shows ability to continue. I’m stoked for such a high budget fantasy show to be coming out and don’t really care how true to Tolkien it is so long as the story and characters are compelling.