J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings is back in the spotlight, as Warner Bros. Television is in talks with Amazon for a new series.
The new show, which would debut on Amazon Video, is not official yet as proper deals still need to be made with Tolkien’s estate. The Hollywood Reporter stated that the search for a writer hasn’t even begun yet, and these negotiations are in early stages.
Just four months ago, an $80 million settlement was reached between Warner Bros. (who also distributed the LOTR movies) and Tolkien’s estate. The five-year court case was between Warner Bros. label New Line Cinema, and the Tolkien estate over profit participation from The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers , The Return of the King , and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey .
The court case mostly revolved around the use of characters from the popular novels and movies in online slot machines and various games on the internet.
Amazon head honcho Jeff Bezos is said to be heavily involved in the LOTR negotiations , according to Variety . Other streaming outlets were said to be interested in the project, but Amazon stepped up as the frontrunner.
Variety reported back in September that Bezos has been restructuring the programming at Amazon, now focusing on more genre-specific TV shows. While the streaming service saw Oscar success with Manchester by the Sea , the platform has not been able to develop a television show that resonates with viewers like Netflix’s Stranger Things , or Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale .
Amazon is in talks for a Lord Of The Rings TV show https://t.co/8kFFVKniLN pic.twitter.com/7mF1eObUCp
— The A.V. Club (@TheAVClub) November 4, 2017
The Man in the High Castle and Transparent are well-received Amazon programs, but don’t reach the viewership or hype Amazon would like. If the LOTR talks go well, it could be the show that gives Amazon the boost it needs.
Amazon Studios shows are often so unsuccessful, they are canceled after one season. The Last Tycoon and Z: The Beginning of Everything were both canceled after one season this year despite having big name actors like Christina Ricci and Matt Bomer. Amazon newcomer Lore is receiving good ratings from critics and fans, but might not make it to a second season.
The talks for the new Lord of the Rings series already has many speculating that Amazon is looking for their own Game of Thrones . With the hit HBO show coming to an end in 2019, a comparable show could gain its viewership in following years. The Game of Thrones spinoff shows still have yet to be announced.
Would you be interested in a Lord of the Rings TV show? Let us know in the comments below.
[Featured Image by Warner Bros. Studios ]
