David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery has revealed that “multiple” new Lord of the Rings films have been negotiated.
New ‘LORD OF THE RINGS’ films are in the works at Warner Bros. pic.twitter.com/3gg2MtwAIy
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 23, 2023
David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, revealed that newly appointed studio heads Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy have negotiated a deal to produce “multiple” movies based on the cherished J. R. R. Tolkien books. Early in the new millennium, the projects were created by New Line Cinema, a WB label. Peter Jackson directed the first “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, which brought in close to $3 billion worldwide.
Warners is now able to create movies based on The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books by J.R.R. Tolkien thanks to a multiyear agreement with the rights holders Embracer Group AB.
The rights to create LOTR movies, video games, merchandising, theme park attractions, and live shows were purchased by Embracer Group, a Swedish gaming firm last year, when it acquired Middle-earth Enterprises from The Saul Zaentz Company.
The rights to Tolkien’s works for television are owned by Amazon, but in 2022, the Swedish business Embracer Group acquired the rights for Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies, games, merchandise, theme parks, and live productions.
Embracer Group’s CEO Lee Guinchard said: “Following our recent acquisition of Middle-earth Enterprises, we’re thrilled to embark on this new collaborative journey with New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures, bringing the incomparable world of JRR Tolkien back to the big screen in new and exciting ways.
The executive duo of Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy De Luca from Warner Bros. Discovery have hinted at a departure from the narratives presented by Jackson in the first trilogy, even though it’s unclear when viewers can expect anything to materialise on screen at this time. The agreement marks De Luca’s reunion as well as his return to LOTR.
Produced by New Line and Warner Bros. Animation, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is an animated film that takes place 183 years before The Lord of the Rings. The movie, which focuses on the life of Helm Hammerhand, a well-known ruler of Rohan, will be released in theatres in April 2024.
