
Please try another search
On Monday, e-commerce giant Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) announced that it has acquired global television rights to The Lord of the Rings (LOTR), and has big plans to bring the beloved franchise set in Middle Earth to the small screen.
According to Deadline, Amazon apparently paid close to $250 million, but that does not include any production costs, which will likely be enormous if you consider what HBO has to shell out for its hit fantasy series, Game of Thrones. No financial details about the deal were officially disclosed.
Together with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins, and New Line Cinema, Amazon Studios is set to produce a LOTR television series based on new storylines and one that takes place before J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Fellowship of the Ring. The company’s Amazon Prime streaming service has given the show a multi-season commitment, with the potential for spinoff series.
“The Lord of the Rings is a cultural phenomenon that has captured the imagination of generations of fans through literature and the big screen,” said Sharon Tal Yguado, Head of Scripted Series, Amazon Studios. “We are honored to be working with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins and New Line on this exciting collaboration for television and are thrilled to be taking The Lord of the Rings fans on a new epic journey in Middle Earth.”
Deadline also notes that Amazon, HBO, and streaming giant Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) were all approached by the Tolkien estate about the new LOTR show.
This deal is also allowed Amazon to get in the television franchise game, and step up its competitive offerings. Even though Game of Thrones has begun filming its last season, HBO already has plans for multiple spin-off seasons of the world of Westeros. Netflix, too, has a very successful partnership with Disney’s (NYSE:DIS) Marvel franchise, with shows like Daredevil and Luke Cage huge hits for the platform.
A LOTR show could prove very fruitful for Amazon. The original trilogy grossed over $2.9 billion worldwide, and it truly was a global phenomenon. The final film, The Return of the King, eventually won 11 Oscars, sweeping all categories for which it was nominated; the first two con win six Oscars combined as well.
But all of this monetary and awards season potential carries a ton of risk, like all adaptations do. Amazon should be mindful of LOTR’s vehemently devoted fanbase, and the fact that Middle Earth has already been extensively explored on screen in these first three films and the Hobbit trilogy.
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
It's not the one you think. See This Ticker Free >>
• Trump’s trade war, inflation data, and last batch of earnings will be in focus this week. • DoorDash’s imminent inclusion in the S&P 500 is likely to trigger a wave of...
The big US stocks dominating markets and investors’ portfolios just finished another earnings season. They reported spectacular collective results including record sales, profits,...
“Quality” stocks with strong fundamentals tend to be rewarding places to stash hard-earned money. Since 2009, investing in a basket of quality stocks over a standard index has...
Are you sure you want to block %USER_NAME%?
By doing so, you and %USER_NAME% will not be able to see any of each other's Investing.com's posts.
%USER_NAME% was successfully added to your Block List
Since you’ve just unblocked this person, you must wait 48 hours before renewing the block.
I feel that this comment is:
Thank You!
Your report has been sent to our moderators for review
Add a Comment
We encourage you to use comments to engage with other users, share your perspective and ask questions of authors and each other. However, in order to maintain the high level of discourse we’ve all come to value and expect, please keep the following criteria in mind:
Enrich the conversation, don’t trash it.
Stay focused and on track. Only post material that’s relevant to the topic being discussed.
Be respectful. Even negative opinions can be framed positively and diplomatically. Avoid profanity, slander or personal attacks directed at an author or another user. Racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination will not be tolerated.
Perpetrators of spam or abuse will be deleted from the site and prohibited from future registration at Investing.com’s discretion.