More Lord of the Rings movies in the works as Warner Bros & New Line strike rights deal

New Line Cinema and Warner Bros Pictures have entered into a new multi-year agreement with Middle-Earth Enterprises of Embracer Group AB to collaborate on new projects Under the Ring’s spell movies. David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, announced the news during the company’s call Thursday to discuss fourth quarter 2022 results.

In previous calls, Zaslav mentioned the need for more franchises on the big screen.

The deal comes 20 years after New Line published Peter Jackson’s epic Under the Ring’s spell Trilogy that won 17 Oscars, including 11 in 2004 for the finale The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, tying the record for a single film. Warners teamed up with Jackson again for a trilogy of films based on The Hobbit, a co-production with MGM. Together, the six films earned nearly $6 billion at the worldwide box office.

New Line and Warner Bros Animation are currently producing The Lord of the Rings: The War of the RohirrimAn original anime set 183 years before the events of Under the Ring’s spell. The film, which tells the fate of the homeland of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary king of Rohan, opens in theaters on April 12, 2024.

“Following our recent acquisition of Middle-earth Enterprises, we are excited to embark on this new journey with New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures, bringing the incomparable world of JRR Tolkien back to the big screen in new and exciting ways. Lee Guinchard, CEO of Embracer Group’s Freemode operating group, said in a statement today. “We understand how precious these works are, and by working with our partners at New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures, we aim to honor the past, look to the future and adhere to the highest standards of quality and production. completed.”

“Twenty years ago, New Line took an unprecedented leap of faith to create the incredible stories, characters and world of Under the Ring’s spell On the big screen. The result was a groundbreaking franchise embraced by generations of fans,” said Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, co-chairmen and CEOs, Warner Bros. Pictures Group said. “But for all the scope and detail lovingly packed into the two trilogies, the vast, complex and dazzling universe envisioned by JRR Tolkien remains largely unexplored on film. The opportunity to take fans deeper into the cinematic world of Middle-earth is an honor and we are excited to partner with Middle-earth Enterprises and Embracer on this adventure.”

Note that in a separate TV rights deal in 2018 worth about $250 million, Amazon beat out Netflix for the rights with the Tolkien Estate, publisher HarperCollins and New Line for a five-season commitment lord of the rings to the streaming service. It will The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerwhich debuted on Prime Video in September 2022.

Middle-earth Enterprises owns exclusive worldwide film, game, merchandise, performance and other rights to certain of Tolkein’s literary works, including Under the Ring’s spell And The Hobbit. They have licensed and produced films, games, stage productions and merchandise for over four decades. In August, Embracer bought the film rights to Middle-earth from the late Oscar winner Saul Zaentz.