You might be under the impression that the only world-building going on over at Warner Bros. HQ was in relation to their much-ballyhooed DC restructure, but the studio have an even more profitable franchise to bring to the big-screen following the news that Warner Bros Discovery and New Line Cinema have forged in the fires of Mordor a new multiyear deal with Embracer Group AB’s Middle-earth Enterprises, which means we’re getting more The Lord of the Rings movies.
Variety reported that Warner Bros. Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav announced the news during the company’s call to discuss its Q4 2022 figures.
Warner Bros Pictures Group co-chairs and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who brokered the deal, responded to the news by saying “Twenty years ago, New Line took an unprecedented leap of faith to realize the incredible stories, characters, and world of The Lord of the Rings on the big screen. The result was a landmark series of films that have been embraced by generations of fans.”
Lee Guinchard, CEO of Freemode, a division of Embracer Group, who own the adaptive rights deal for Tolkien’s books said “We understand how cherished these works are and working together with our partners at New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures, we plan to honour the past, look to the future, and adhere to the strongest level of quality and production values.”
This desire to honour the past has meant that Peter Jackson and his own Fellowship of Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens have been kept “in the loop every step of the way” during the deal, adding in a joint statement that they “look forward to speaking with them further to hear their vision for the franchise moving forward.”
Warner Bros. and New Line currently have the animated film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim set to arrive in 2024. Meanwhile, TV rights to The Lord of the Rings remain with Amazon, who are one $450 million season into their five-season commitment on The Rings of Power.
Let us know whether you’re looking forward to revisiting Middle-Earth on the big-screen, or if Peter Jackson’s original trilogy will forever remain the adaptation to rule them all by heading to our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Originally published February 24, 2023. Updated February 25, 2023.
