Embracer Group AB, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Middle-earth-Enterprises (part of the operative group Freemode) has signed an agreement with New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures to collaborate on new Lord of the Rings films.
The agreement covers multiple feature films based on the revered works of J.R.R. Tolkien, expanding upon the much-loved world and characters of Middle-earth.
The agreement comes 20 years after New Line Cinema released Peter Jackson‘s epic The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The films are among the most successful and acclaimed of all time, winning 17 Oscars including eleven for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, tying the record for a single film.
The studio re-teamed with Jackson for a trilogy of films based on The Hobbit, a co-production with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. Combined, the six films earned nearly $6 billion in box office worldwide.
New Line and Warner Bros. Animation are currently in production on The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an original anime set 183 years before the events in The Lord of the Rings.
The film tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan, and marches into cinemas on April 12, 2024.
“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.”
“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,” said Warner Bros. Pictures Group Co-Chairs and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy.
“But for all the scope and detail lovingly packed into the two trilogies, the vast, complex and dazzling universe dreamed up by J.R.R. Tolkien remains largely unexplored on film. The opportunity to invite 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.”
This new Lord of the Rings agreement is one of Embracer‘s deals with several industry partners that are jointly transformative. This specific partnership aims to create long-term value for Embracer Group and is expected to have limited effects in the short term.
Embracer also has financial interested in Amazon series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which is set thousands of years before The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.