Late last year, Amazon acquired the TV rights to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord Of The Rings for a reported $250 million. Well, new details have surfaced that the new project is on course to become the most expensive TV show of all time, with five seasons reportedly agreed at the time of the sale – which could bring the total cost of those first five seasons at close to $1 billion.
The Hollywood Reporter got the scoop on the plans over at Amazon, adding that the production must also be in-production withing two years.
‘On Nov. 13, Amazon Studios beat out Netflix for a $250 million rights deal with the Tolkien estate, publisher HarperCollins and New Line Cinema that includes a five-season commitment to bring The Lord of the Rings to the small screen,’ the article reads. ‘Amazon must be in production within two years, according to the terms of the pact. When production expenses like casting, producers and visual effects are factored in, the series is expected to cost north of $1 billion.’
The book on which the new series is based was of course turned into a big screen franchise over at New Line Cinema with Peter Jackson at the helm. He’s not currently involved in the new project, but let’s not rule it out at the moment for him to come on board in some capacity. For more, hit the link above.
