Forgive the pun, but “The Lord Of The Rings” is one of the most precious properties in the Warner Bros. catalog. The works of J.R.R. Tolkien has been a cultural touchstone and commercial hit for the studio, starting with Peter Jackson‘s treasured “The Lord Of The Rings” trilogy, and including his less successful “The Hobbit” flicks. That said, the relationship between Warners and the Tolkien hasn’t always been rosy. Back in 2013, Christopher Tolkien said Jackson’s movies “eviscerated the book,” removing all “the beauty and seriousness of the work.” That said, Tolkiens have been happy to take the piles of money, but maybe they’ll be more pleased with the plans that are brewing for a new adaptation.
Amazon is teaming up with Warner Bros. Television for a TV series take on “The Lord Of The Rings.” It’s still very early in the going, but CEO Jeff Bezos is making the rare step of personally involving himself in the negotiations. It’s been no secret that Amazon has been looking for their own “Game Of Thrones” style sensation, and this could be the ticket. And while the movies are already out there, plenty of material from the books didn’t make into Jackson’s features, even in those super extended cuts (though apparently there is even more footage sitting in a vault in Arizona).
It’s not a big shock that Warner Bros. wants to turn on “The Lord Of The Rings” faucet again — it’s just too lucrative to pass up. The studio is already going down a similar path with “Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them,” their prequel to the “Harry Potter” franchise. And with a world as huge as “The Lord Of The Rings,” bringing it to the small screen allows them to go deep, and hopefully keep the Tolkien estate happy, who just settled a long-running lawsuit with Warner Bros. over the summer. Having Amazon on board, and presumably help co-finance, lessens the risk, and maybe keeps all the Tolkiens at ease too.
So, get ready, we’ll all be returning to Middle Earth in the not-so-distant future. [Variety]