It’s been nearly fifteen years since the last entry into Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy grossed over $1 billion at the box office worldwide. Coincidentally, that figure is expected to be the price tag of Amazon’s new series.
A report detailing their $250 million purchase of the rights to The Lord of the Rings suggests that, in addition to that ludicrous acquisition fee, production costs could push the series’ total to $1 billion. Granted, that sum is expected to account for the deal’s stipulation of a 5 season run, but when compared to a similar show like Game of Thrones, where every six episodes cost about $15 million, the amount still seems a tad bit crazy.
Amazon’s ten-figure setback isn’t even the most interesting aspect of the deal, though. Peter Jackson, who won Best Director at the 2004 Oscars for The Return of the King, has the option to board the series as an executive producer. And, according to THR, Amazon is actively attempting to recruit him. Furthermore, production on the LOTR show is conditioned to begin within two years, meaning that casting announcements and plot details should be arriving before too long.
Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy earned close to $3 billion at the box office worldwide and won a total of seventeen Academy Awards, so Amazon’s faith in a successful television adaptation is warranted. Nonetheless, a ten-figure gamble is risky no matter how you frame it. I’m sure the studio would’ve preferred to have taken their time developing the series, but it appears that the two year production window was an essential precondition in the arrangement.
Tell us, do you think Amazon’s latest acquisition is worth the price tag? Or did the company pay for too much for the property? As always, have your say in the comments section down below.