Amazon is set to adapt 'The Lord of the Rings' novel series into a multi-season television show.
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings author
The media giants announced on Monday (13.11.17) they have acquired the television rights to the hugely popular fantasy novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, and have already secured a multi-season commitment to produce the new programme for their on-demand service Prime Video.
Amazon Studios will collaborate with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins and New Line Cinema to create the Amazon Prime Original, which will explore new storylines preceding the author's first book in the series, 'The Fellowship of the Ring'.
Sharon Tal Yguado, Head of Scripted Series for Amazon Studios said in a statement: "'The Lord of the Rings' is a cultural phenomenon that has captured the imagination of generations of fans through literature and the big screen. We are honoured to be working with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins and New Line on this exciting collaboration for television and are thrilled to be taking 'The Lord of the Rings' fans on a new epic journey in Middle Earth."
Whilst Matt Galsor, a representative for the Tolkien Estate and Trust and HarperCollins added: "We are delighted that Amazon, with its longstanding commitment to literature, is the home of the first-ever multi-season television series for 'The Lord of the Rings'. Sharon and the team at Amazon Studios have exceptional ideas to bring to the screen previously unexplored stories based on J.R.R. Tolkien's original writings."
It is not yet known who will be cast in the new production, though the series will be separate from the popular New Line Cinema movies, which were directed by Peter Jackson and starred Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Sean Astin and Orlando Bloom.
The upcoming show is expected to come to Prime Video in 2020, and will be available exclusively for Amazon Prime members to stream and enjoy using the Amazon Prime Video app for TVs, connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online with other Amazon Prime Originals online at Amazon.co.uk/originals.