Artists write screen plays and have huge amendments made to their scripts, If Ridley Scott is given 100 million dollars to make a movie he will make the movie that is requested by the one who pays for the movie. That is particularly pertinent to what we are talking about when he turned away from seeking God, to making another monster movie; with a story line.
God is big business in the United States, particularly the fly over states.
This leans toward "writing cowardice" rather than "lack of imagination." You imply the writer, producer, director, whichever or all Scott might be, does not wish to offend the Big Business of religion, or Big Business in general, or at least is willing to compromise his story for the backer. Maybe I should add artistic integrity to the list.
The story in this case, was already written by J.R.R. Tolkien. All they have to do is follow it. I see the show runners' or writers' philosophical ideas about what they are doing as somewhat pretentious, trying to convince viewers their clothes are beautiful while they are actually... Well, you know the fable. William Peter Blatty determined to use a demon instead of Satan (though the demon claimed to be Satan), so we're kind of stuck there. His book dictates what the writers do, so they are excused. But there no such excuse for Rings of Power, no matter how many story theories and justifications we bandy about..
