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***Cthulhu*** · 11/13/2017

'Lord of the Rings' TV Series Gets Multiple-Season Commitment at Amazon

The retail and streaming giant on Monday announced that it has acquired global TV rights to the J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy series.

Amazon's LOTR series will be set in Middle-earth and explore new storylines preceding Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. The deal includes a potential additional spinoff series.

The Amazon LOTR series will be produced in-house at Amazon Studios alongside the Tolkien Estate and Trust, publisher HarperCollins and New Line Cinema.

The news comes four months after Warner Bros. and the Tolkien estate settled an $80 million lawsuit after a five-year battle.

At least it's a prequel and they're not trying to remake the movies. Yet. Then again it might be a remake of The Hobbit, which... I wouldn't mind, those movies were shit.

Channy · 11/13/2017

So maybe they'd be doing more of the backstory/lore books, like the Silmarillariladingdong?

***X-SOLDIER*** · 11/13/2017

As much as I love the films, I am ALL about seeing something where the pacing that movies have to adhere to would be removed, and let them explore through things in Middle Earth at a pace that's more like the books.

I am curious what other stuff they'd cover, since the Hobbit films covered most of the Return of the King's appendices content, but I'm hoping THE MOST for Tom Bombadil.

X

HylianMogget · 11/14/2017

X-SOLDIER wrote: I am curious what other stuff they'd cover, since the Hobbit films covered most of the Return of the King's appendices content, but I'm hoping THE MOST for Tom Bombadil.

Probably stuff from the Silmarillion, which could be really awesome if done well, I think.

Whatever it is, I'm really happy it isn't gonna be a remake of the first three movies.

Tetsujin · 11/14/2017

Film rights to Silmarilion etc were never sold and are still fiercely protected by the Tolkien Estate so they can't really touch anything besides LotR appendices stuff or make up something original.

***The Twilight Mexican*** · 11/14/2017

They'll probably do "The Silmarillion" and hope to pick up "Game of Thrones" fans.

EDIT: Or maybe not?

***X-SOLDIER*** · 11/14/2017

Tetsujin wrote: Film rights to Silmarilion etc were never sold and are still fiercely protected by the Tolkien Estate so they can't really touch anything besides LotR appendices stuff or make up something original.

The Amazon LOTR series will be produced in-house at Amazon Studios alongside the Tolkien Estate and Trust, publisher HarperCollins and Warner Bros. Entertainment's New Line Cinema. Amazon's LOTR series will be set in Middle-earth and explore new storylines preceding Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. The deal includes a potential additional spinoff series.

...Sharon Tal Yguado, Amazon's new head of scripted: “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.”

...The news comes four months after Warner Bros. and the Tolkien estate settled an $80 million lawsuit after a five-year battle. That happened after Warners offshoot New Line Cinema and the Tolkien estate waged a courtroom battle over profit participation from the film franchise that consisted of The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003), as well as 2013 prequel The Hobbit. The property is a multibillion-dollar worldwide franchise.

The Tolkien Estate is very much involved in this after all the legal stuff that'd been going on, so I still think it's a possibility – depending on how the series goes in their eyes – that the Silmarillion's content isn't necessarily untouchable.

X

Tetsujin · 11/14/2017

Their involvement is probably specifically *because* of the legal stuff. I'd guess it's checking the scripts to make sure they stay within the realm of only what they have the license to, i.e. Hobbit and LotR.

Christopher Tolkien is still the head of the Estate and he literally disowned his son at one point over disagreements over the movies.
Maybe when he's dead and depending on who's gonna be in charge of the estate there might be a change in attitude but for now there's no chance they'll let anyone touch that other stuff.

***Cthulhu*** · 11/14/2017

The problem / challenge is off course whether the Silmarillion or the appendices or anything is adaptable to a TV show, and whether it'll have mass-appeal. TBF I doubt it. If they're going for something niche that might work for the hardcore book fans, then maybe. But if they're going for a GoT competitor, they have to bring something good.

I'm going to bet they'll try and do an original storyline(s), based loosely on the universe with a large helping of GoT sauce made of giant's blood (read: dicks), plot thickener and everybody dies.

Minato · 11/14/2017

The war against the Witch-King of Angmar could maybe work for an adaptation.

***Lex*** · 11/14/2017

Three points, two of which are very contentious according to the general sway of opinion in this thread:

1. I'm really pleased this is happening
2. I'm really mad that Amazon won over Netflix (even though I have Prime... I just don't think Amazon's original content is anywhere near what Netflix's is)
3. Dare I say it - I'm slightly disappointed that this isn't a re-tread of the LOTR story? Yes the movies are amazing (IMO) and will always exist, but what with CG advancement and having real time to develop the story over a series, I was looking forward to seasons of LOTR that leave very little out of the books like the movies had to.

#bonus hipster comment: LOTR was the first "big" book I ever read when I was a young child, long before the movies were a thing. I'm obviously making the assumption that anyone who touches the LOTR universe will treat it with the love and care it deserves, as Peter Jackson did (I suppose that's a matter of opinion, but I certainly think he gave it an incredible homage). I think that's why I immediately got excited when I saw this news a week or so ago. It's not like me to be the optimist, but a jaunt back into Tolkeinland? Fuck yes.

***X-SOLDIER*** · 11/14/2017

FWIW: I feel the same way, Lex

X

Shademp · 11/15/2017

I echo the sentiments of the LeX-SOLDIER fusion.

(Apart from the Amazon vs Netflix thing, where I have no formulated opinion whatsoever)

Tetsujin · 11/15/2017

Tetsujin wrote: Christopher Tolkien is still the head of the Estate and he literally disowned his son at one point over disagreements over the movies.
Maybe when he's dead and depending on who's gonna be in charge of the estate there might be a change in attitude but for now there's no chance they'll let anyone touch that other stuff.

Well then: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2017...olkien-estate/

tl;dr he resigned (back in August in fact) and the tv series is already part of the Estate being more willing to cooperate as tv rights were not part of the rights JRR sold back in the day. That's also why Saul Zaentz' Middle-Earth Enterprises, the current movie right holders are not involved.

***X-SOLDIER*** · 11/15/2017

Well, that quite literally explains EVERYTHING about this recent news.

X

11/13/2017	#1
*Cthulhu* *Administrator* Great Old One Join Date: Nov 2008	Lord of the Rings TV Show [Amazon] 'Lord of the Rings' TV Series Gets Multiple-Season Commitment at Amazon The retail and streaming giant on Monday announced that it has acquired global TV rights to the J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy series. Amazon's LOTR series will be set in Middle-earth and explore new storylines preceding Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. The deal includes a potential additional spinoff series. The Amazon LOTR series will be produced in-house at Amazon Studios alongside the Tolkien Estate and Trust, publisher HarperCollins and New Line Cinema. The news comes four months after Warner Bros. and the Tolkien estate settled an $80 million lawsuit after a five-year battle. At least it's a prequel and they're not trying to remake the movies. Yet. Then again it might be a remake of The Hobbit, which... I wouldn't mind, those movies were shit.

11/13/2017	#2
Channy Great Old One Bad Habit Join Date: Dec 2008 Age: 32 Sex: And tonight I'm gonna get me some Location: Canadia AKA: Channy, Aerith Gainsborough, Ruby Rose, Lucy	So maybe they'd be doing more of the backstory/lore books, like the Silmarillariladingdong? __________________ So, why do you come here? Same as you, I think. I've been here a lot... You must have a lot going on your mind, I suppose. Yeah, but I'd rather have nothing for a change. How do you do it? Well, it comes with practice. I can think of nothing. I do not feel the need to occupy my mind with nonsense, just to avoid thinking about what really matters.

11/13/2017	#3
*X-SOLDIER* *Administrator* Great Old One Harbinger O Great Justice Join Date: Nov 2008 Age: 35 Location: SLC, UT - USA	As much as I love the films, I am ALL about seeing something where the pacing that movies have to adhere to would be removed, and let them explore through things in Middle Earth at a pace that's more like the books. I am curious what other stuff they'd cover, since the Hobbit films covered most of the Return of the King's appendices content, but I'm hoping THE MOST for Tom Bombadil. X __________________ Cyclops. Is. Right. …Xenomorphaux Pas… Shademp – on the subject of my seemingly boundless optimism wrote: After Ungoliant had sucked the light from the trees Telperion and Laurelin, she found that there was a third tree but whose light was too potent and immortal for her to absorb. Thusly, Ungoliant left Valinor in tears for she could not absorb the light of the tree named X-SOLDIER. #TotzCanon ~ \| G+ \| Facebook \| Tumblr \| Twitter \| DA \| TLS \| FFOF \| FF \| SCL \| KC \| CC \| ~

11/14/2017	#4
HylianMogget Senior Member • Join Date: Jan 2009 Age: 31 Sex: Female Location: in another castle AKA: Hebdomeros, Christine	X-SOLDIER wrote: I am curious what other stuff they'd cover, since the Hobbit films covered most of the Return of the King's appendices content, but I'm hoping THE MOST for Tom Bombadil. Probably stuff from the Silmarillion, which could be really awesome if done well, I think. Whatever it is, I'm really happy it isn't gonna be a remake of the first three movies. __________________ last.fm \| tumblr

11/14/2017	#6
*The Twilight Mexican* *Administrator* Great Old One Ex-SeeD-ingly good Join Date: Sep 2009 Age: 35 Sex: Male Location: North Carolina AKA: TresDias, Hawkeye, El Diablo Gato, Martha Jones, Ariadne, Squall of SeeD, Squall_of_SeeD	They'll probably do "The Silmarillion" and hope to pick up "Game of Thrones" fans. EDIT: Or maybe not? __________________ Quexinos wrote: I wish I had been there when Cloud realized he had geostigma. I bet he cried. hito wrote: man i miss flip phones, they were cool and now everything is a boring slab

11/14/2017	#5
Tetsujin Great Old One IronDude Join Date: Nov 2008	Film rights to Silmarilion etc were never sold and are still fiercely protected by the Tolkien Estate so they can't really touch anything besides LotR appendices stuff or make up something original.

11/14/2017	#7
*X-SOLDIER* *Administrator* Great Old One Harbinger O Great Justice Join Date: Nov 2008 Age: 35 Location: SLC, UT - USA	Tetsujin wrote: Film rights to Silmarilion etc were never sold and are still fiercely protected by the Tolkien Estate so they can't really touch anything besides LotR appendices stuff or make up something original. The Amazon LOTR series will be produced in-house at Amazon Studios alongside the Tolkien Estate and Trust, publisher HarperCollins and Warner Bros. Entertainment's New Line Cinema. Amazon's LOTR series will be set in Middle-earth and explore new storylines preceding Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. The deal includes a potential additional spinoff series. ...Sharon Tal Yguado, Amazon's new head of scripted: “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.” ...The news comes four months after Warner Bros. and the Tolkien estate settled an $80 million lawsuit after a five-year battle. That happened after Warners offshoot New Line Cinema and the Tolkien estate waged a courtroom battle over profit participation from the film franchise that consisted of The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003), as well as 2013 prequel The Hobbit. The property is a multibillion-dollar worldwide franchise. The Tolkien Estate is very much involved in this after all the legal stuff that'd been going on, so I still think it's a possibility – depending on how the series goes in their eyes – that the Silmarillion's content isn't necessarily untouchable. X __________________ Cyclops. Is. Right. …Xenomorphaux Pas… Shademp – on the subject of my seemingly boundless optimism wrote: After Ungoliant had sucked the light from the trees Telperion and Laurelin, she found that there was a third tree but whose light was too potent and immortal for her to absorb. Thusly, Ungoliant left Valinor in tears for she could not absorb the light of the tree named X-SOLDIER. #TotzCanon ~ \| G+ \| Facebook \| Tumblr \| Twitter \| DA \| TLS \| FFOF \| FF \| SCL \| KC \| CC \| ~

11/14/2017	#10
Minato Elite Member Donator Join Date: Sep 2009 Age: 31 Sex: Yes Location: Close AKA: MarquessLaus, Brandon Stark, Epyon, Mr Foxhound, Doran	The war against the Witch-King of Angmar could maybe work for an adaptation.

11/14/2017	#11
*Lex* *Administrator* Great Old One Reunion Join Date: Jun 2009 Sex: Male Location: Scotland AKA: PSN: Prince-Lex	Three points, two of which are very contentious according to the general sway of opinion in this thread: 1. I'm really pleased this is happening 2. I'm really mad that Amazon won over Netflix (even though I have Prime... I just don't think Amazon's original content is anywhere near what Netflix's is) 3. Dare I say it - I'm slightly disappointed that this isn't a re-tread of the LOTR story? Yes the movies are amazing (IMO) and will always exist, but what with CG advancement and having real time to develop the story over a series, I was looking forward to seasons of LOTR that leave very little out of the books like the movies had to. #bonus hipster comment: LOTR was the first "big" book I ever read when I was a young child, long before the movies were a thing. I'm obviously making the assumption that anyone who touches the LOTR universe will treat it with the love and care it deserves, as Peter Jackson did (I suppose that's a matter of opinion, but I certainly think he gave it an incredible homage). I think that's why I immediately got excited when I saw this news a week or so ago. It's not like me to be the optimist, but a jaunt back into Tolkeinland? Fuck yes. __________________ Especially for me, by the awesome GLD! Signature by Gabriel <3 mShenko <3

11/14/2017	#12
*X-SOLDIER* *Administrator* Great Old One Harbinger O Great Justice Join Date: Nov 2008 Age: 35 Location: SLC, UT - USA	FWIW: I feel the same way, Lex X __________________ Cyclops. Is. Right. …Xenomorphaux Pas… Shademp – on the subject of my seemingly boundless optimism wrote: After Ungoliant had sucked the light from the trees Telperion and Laurelin, she found that there was a third tree but whose light was too potent and immortal for her to absorb. Thusly, Ungoliant left Valinor in tears for she could not absorb the light of the tree named X-SOLDIER. #TotzCanon ~ \| G+ \| Facebook \| Tumblr \| Twitter \| DA \| TLS \| FFOF \| FF \| SCL \| KC \| CC \| ~

11/15/2017	#13
Shademp Great Old One 69 Join Date: Dec 2008 Age: 33 Sex: Male Location: Sweden	I echo the sentiments of the LeX-SOLDIER fusion. (Apart from the Amazon vs Netflix thing, where I have no formulated opinion whatsoever) __________________ My YouTube Channel! FINAL FANTASY VII UNCOVERED Clement Rage wrote: All hail Shademp, God of Dirge.

11/15/2017	#14
Tetsujin Great Old One IronDude Join Date: Nov 2008	Tetsujin wrote: Christopher Tolkien is still the head of the Estate and he literally disowned his son at one point over disagreements over the movies. Maybe when he's dead and depending on who's gonna be in charge of the estate there might be a change in attitude but for now there's no chance they'll let anyone touch that other stuff. Well then: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2017...olkien-estate/ tl;dr he resigned (back in August in fact) and the tv series is already part of the Estate being more willing to cooperate as tv rights were not part of the rights JRR sold back in the day. That's also why Saul Zaentz' Middle-Earth Enterprises, the current movie right holders are not involved. Last edited by Tetsujin; 11/15/2017 at 06:54 PM.