MOVIES
New ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies are coming
Lord of the Rings fans were excited to learn on Thursday that new films are in the works.
Thanks to a recent deal made between Warner Bros., New Line, and Swedish gaming company Embracer Group, new films set in middle earth are believed to be in the works.
The multi-year deal will allow Warners to develop new films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ book series.
“Multiple” films are in the works
Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced the deal on Thursday, saying the deal allowed the making of “multiple” films.
The upcoming projects will be developed through the Warner Bros label New Line Cinema. No filmmakers have officially been named to any of the potential projects, but Peter Jackson, who directed the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy beginning in 2001, as well as ‘The Hobbit’ films, told Variety: “We look forward to speaking with [Warner Bros.] further to hear their vision for the franchise moving forward.”
The new deal made by Freemode, a division of Embracer Group, allows for adaptive rights and was done under the Middle-earth Enterprises name.
“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 J.R.R. Tolkien back to the big screen in new and exciting ways,” said Lee Guinchard, CEO of Freemode.
“We understand how cherished these works are and working together with our partners at New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures, we plan to honor the past, look to the future, and adhere to the strongest level of quality and production values.”
No further details on timelines or what the new films will cover within Tolkien’s works have been revealed.
The success of ‘Lord of the Rings’
Jackson’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, starring Elijah Wood and Orlando Bloom, grossed $3 billion around the world. The third film in the series, ‘The Return of the King’ won 11 Oscars, including Best Picture.
The first film in ‘The Hobbit’ series, ‘An Unexpected Journey’ won the award for ‘Outstanding Virtual Cinematography’ by the Visual Effects Society. Martin Freeman, who played Bilbo Baggins, won the Best Hero award at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards.