MUMBAI: Amazon acquired the global television rights to The Lord of the Rings (LOTR), based on the celebrated fantasy novels by JRR Tolkien, with a multi-season commitment. Set in middle earth, the adaptation will explore new storylines preceding Tolkien’s first novel of the series The Fellowship of the Ring. The deal includes a potential additional spin-off series.
Amazon Studios will produce the upcoming Amazon Prime original in cooperation with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins and New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros Entertainment.
Amazon Studios head of scripted series Sharon Tal Yguado said, “LOTR is a cultural phenomenon that has captured the imagination of generations of fans through literature and the big screen. We are honored to be working on this exciting collaboration for television and are thrilled to be taking LOTR fans on a new epic journey in middle earth.”
Tolkien Estate and Trust and HarperCollins representative Matt Galsor said, “Sharon and the team at Amazon Studios have exceptional ideas to bring to the screen previously unexplored stories based on JRR Tolkien’s original writings. We are delighted that Amazon, with its longstanding commitment to literature, is the home of the first-ever multi-season television series for LOTR.”
A world-renowned literary work, and winner of the International Fantasy Award and Prometheus Hall of Fame Award, LOTR novels was named Amazon customers’ favorite book of the millennium in 1999 and Britain’s best-loved novel of all time in BBC’s The Big Read in 2003. Its theatrical adaptations, from New Line Cinema and Director Peter Jackson, earned a combined gross of nearly $6 billion worldwide. With an all-star cast that included Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Sean Astin and Orlando Bloom, the LOTR trilogy garnered a combined 17 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Also Read:
Amazon Prime offers deals to subscribers
Amazon Prime to stream new originals in reality series format
Amazon Prime plans to add more originals & evaluating regional content
