The best possible Lord of the Rings TV show can never happen, and it’s all thanks to Amazon. This company is responsible for Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which, though initially promising, has significantly underperformed. The series just hasn’t felt like the Lord of the Rings that fans know and love. This is in total contrast to Peter Jackson’s film trilogy, which is widely regarded as practically perfect in every way.
Recently, the original cast of Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy has begun reprising their roles in the franchise. Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis are slated to return for a new movie, Hunt for Gollum, and there’s a possibility that Viggo Mortensen will join them. Then there’s Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan, all of whom will be going on tour as part of The Lord of the Rings‘ 25th anniversary.
With the cast of The Lord of the Rings once again active and the disappointment of Rings of Power, fans have begun to hope that a new TV show is on the way. It would be a joy to see Wood, McKellen, and all the rest take part in a new Lord of the Rings story in a TV format. However, such a project is an impossibility, at least for now.
Amazon Has The TV Rights To The Lord Of The Rings (Not Warner Bros)
Over the years, the screen rights to The Lord of the Rings were sold by the Tolkien estate and J.R.R. Tolkien himself. However, there’s a difference between movie rights and TV rights. Currently, Warner Bros and New Line Cinema, the production companies behind Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies, possess the film rights to the iconic fantasy book series. The TV rights, on the other hand, are licensed by Amazon.
This means that Amazon can’t make Lord of the Rings movies, and Warner Bros can’t make Lord of the Rings TV shows. As much as we would love to see Jackson and the cast of his films play their respective characters in an HBO (a subsidiary of Warner Bros) series, it’s unlikely ever to happen.
A LOTR Movie Cast TV Show Is Unlikely Ever To Happen
Amazon has exclusive rights to make Lord of the Rings TV shows, which means Warner Bros doesn’t currently have that option. However, after Rings of Power comes to a close, it’s possible that Amazon, Warner Bros, and the Tolkien estate could come to a new deal.
Still, even if Warner Bros were to secure TV rights, it wouldn’t be any time soon. Even with Rings of Power‘s underperformance, Prime Video is unlikely to cancel the series, since it would have to pay millions to the Tolkien estate for every unmade season (of the five planned). So, by the time Rings of Power is concluded, Jackson’s Lord of the Rings cast would, most likely, be too old or otherwise unable to participate in a new series. The story options would be extremely limited.
It’s certainly unfortunate, since the longer TV format would be perfect for Lord of the Rings stories revolving around these familiar actors and their characters. Instead, we are left with Rings of Power, for better or worse. The most we can do is enjoy the film projects Warner Bros and New Line Cinema have on the way.
- Created by
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J.R.R. Tolkien
- Cast
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Norman Bird, Anthony Daniels, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis, Brad Dourif, Karl Urban, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Morfydd Clark, Mike Wood, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Sara Zwangobani, Daniel Weyman, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Lenny Henry, Brian Cox, Shaun Dooley, Miranda Otto, Bilal Hasna, Benjamin Wainwright, Luke Pasqualino, Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt
- Character(s)
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Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, Legolas, Boromir, Sauron, Gollum, Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, Celeborn, Aragorn, Galadriel, Bilbo Baggins, Saruman, Aldor, Wormtongue, Thorin Oakenshield, Balin Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Nori, Dori, Ori, Tauriel, King Thranduil, Smaug, Radagast, Arondir, Nori Brandyfoot, Poppy Proudfellow, Marigold Brandyfoot, Queen Regent Míriel, Sadoc Burrows
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
