For a long time, there was a fight going on between Netflix and Amazon Studios for the rights of JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. The TV series will cost $1 billion for 5 seasons as per an estimation Cameron Williams. In fact, $250 million rights deal with Amazon Studios and the Tolkien estate, HarperCollins, and New Line Cinema makes it the most expensive TV Series ever. Finally, The Lord of the Rings comes to the small screen 45 years after the death of the British author. The deal gives rights to Amazon to use material from the movies. Another condition is that it should be in production by November 13, 2019. Else the rights will go back to Tolkien Estate. Overall, casting, making, production, make-up, sets, and other expenses are estimated to cross $1 billion. It was Jeff Bezos whose directive in September 2017 resulted in this deal.
Photo credit: NeilFraudstrong on Visualhunt / CC BY-NC
Everything was so quick since then. As Greenberg Glusker attorney Matt Galsor says, “This is the most complicated deal I’ve ever seen, but it was handled relatively quickly, in a way that brought the parties together in a close relationship. It was tough, but everybody liked each other and felt like a team more as the deal closed.” Since Amazon may use material from the films, as per the contract, Warner Bros. also comes into the picture. There was a separate talk between Amazon top brass and Warner Bros. Picture Group chairman Toby Emmerich. All the films together had an earning of $5.85 billion worldwide. Now, it will be interesting to see if Amazon makes profits out of this deal? And if it does, how much? Will it cross $6 billion from this most expensive TV Series? Will Amazon be able to cover their expenses?
The Most Expensive TV Series Ever Comes To Production in 2019
Finally, the battle for the rights of the most expensive TV Series is over. Now, let us see what is brings on table.
