The rights to make video games based on J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle-earth are going up for sale, Variety has reported.
The Saul Zaentz Company has decided to sell its Tolkien holdings, which are expected to fetch around $2 billion at auction. Founded by the late Saul Zaentz, who passed away in 2017, the company owns the rights to exploit The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit – Tolkien's most famous books – in film, video games, merchandising, live events and theme parks.
Zaentz Co. also has 'limited matching rights' should the Tolkien estate decide to turn The Silmarillion and The Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth – two books published after Tolkien's death in 1973 – into media properties.
Amazon, which is highly expected to be one of the bidders for the rights, exploited a loophole to create its forthcoming Ring of Power TV series. Back in 1976, Zaentz didn't secure the rights for a TV "longer than eight episodes", so Amazon was able to deal with the Tolkien estate directly in 2017.
Warner Bros. – which owns New Line Cinema, the studio which brought Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies to the big screen – maintain some film rights; for example, last year it announced it was creating an anime based on Lord of the Rings. However, Variety understands that in the view of Zaentz Co., "substantial live-action film rights reverted back to them last year in part because Warner Bros. had not been actively developing new “LOTR” and related content."
It was this development that apparently triggered Zaentz Co.'s decision to sell up. Variety also hints that the two companies remain at odds over who actually controls the rights to these properties.
Middle-earth has been represented in video game form many times over the past few decades. A game based on the character Gollum is currently in development and is confirmed as coming to Switch.
[source variety.com, via purexbox.com]
Comments 25
Can I borrow 2 billion dollars? I'll pay ya back like, tomorrow.
Don’t care who gets them as long as they make a good LoTR game
Ratalaika will buy the rights, then make a LOTR dating sim.
Damn expensive ring.
Rights are probably going to go to Amazon, considering they own the LOTR film rights and will probably want to pool their investments. Please just not EA
Whats with the word 'exploit' in the article? Sounds unnecessarily negative.
Nintendo should buy the rights! Want to see Fellowship of the ring fit! Mario, Luigi and Peach go to Browsers lava to destroy his power ups
The most likely buyers are Amazon that are making a TV series and Sony that make films and games.
I'd quite like to see what Sony could so with it. Maybe a game similar in style to god of war could be interesting.
It feels like the films were the most comprehensive way to adapt the story, and It's pointless to remake them. Game wise there could be something interesting, but not 2bn's worth. Also I would guess there's not long until the rights become public domain?
Would expect lots of big bidders in the current climate
Anyone remember The Hobbit on the ZX Spectrum?
Back when loading times meant come back in 15 minutes while the screen fills in line by line...
Would be nice if Tecmo Koei got the rights. I always wanted a Lord of the Rings Musou game taking place between the events of the Hobbit all the way to the Return of the King.
It’s hard to see how this IP is worth half of what Disney paid for Marvel or Lucasfilm.
Will probably become another Witcher clone or a MOBA in next installments.
Puzzle Quest: Middle Earth
Here comes Disney with their checkbooks wide open.
Wonder if this is more at getting more money out of investors then really doing any worth while with the franchise itself.
Will the auction include an NFT? If not, how will we know who really owns it?
A Dynasty Warriors style LotR game could be cool. Include the various epic battles throughout the history of Middle Earth.
Welp, better snap up whatever digital LOTR games there are. That Lego Hobbit probably won't be around forever...
Can someone make a game in the same vein as the Witcher 3 with this franchise please?
A LotR game mechanically comparable to Moonlighter is my ideal. A cozy Shire daytime experience, with mild dungeon / exploration elements.
Pack up your favorite walking stick (and elven sword) and go out to explore West Farthing, set to the LotR soundtrack <3
"the company owns the rights to exploit The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit"
Well said
Lego Lord of the Rings (on the Wii) still remains my favourite LEGO game. The Hobbit on Wii U was great too, except they never ended it.
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