With the arrival of the second season of The Ring and the end of the year, fans of the new Lord of the Rings movie are wondering about the status of the rights to this universe.
The arrival of Amazon’s The Ring of Power series has unsurprisingly stirred up the waters regarding the rights to this popular saga. Felipe Boyens, the producer of the franchise, recently revealed the limitations and possibilities of bringing new adventures from Middle-earth to the big screen.
Middle Earth’s new cinematic horizon
In a seemingly never-ending story, The Lord of the Rings continues to expand its universe. Following the renewal of the deal with Midland Enterprises, which is now owned by Ambaser Group, New Line Cinema is wasting no time in planning new series. The first of them, The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis, has already been confirmed, promising to look at less-explored times in Middle-earth.
On the other hand, Amazon has negotiated with the Tolkien family directly to acquire the rights that they have retained outside of a contract with New Line, MEE, or Embracer. This explains why it is “Ring of Power” and not a direct continuation of the films, streaming instead of cinema.
Different views on the same characters
The most interesting thing in this new era is that both New Line and Amazon have the ability to use the same characters, but in different stages of life. This opens up different narrative possibilities, where different interpretations can coexist without coming into direct conflict. The stories can vary in detail or context, enriching the fan experience and allowing multiple perspectives on famous events and characters like Gandalf or Aragorn to explore unknown aspects of the past or future.
“There’s enough room in that space for a lot of people to live together,” Boynes said. “We never wanted to be the guardians of Middle-earth. Sometimes other people put you in that position, but we don’t feel that way. Honestly, I haven’t seen any. “I didn’t want to see too much because I really didn’t want to be influenced.”
The future of The Lord of the Ring movies
Although you own the rights to the original books and appendices, there is much to explore. “Look at the Battle of the Rohirrim,” Boyens said, referring to a story that takes up only a page and a half in the books, but is narrated throughout the saga. These types of adaptations allow for short periods to expand dramatically, delve into the background and significance of such events, and give fans detailed and immersive stories about minor heroes and villains across the vast expanses of Middle-earth.
“The War of the Rohirrim takes place 200 years before The Ring and is really a standalone story,” Boynes explained. This story completely departs from The Rings of Power or Sauron and offers a new canvas to explore other aspects of Middle-earth, especially through anime, which Boynes says is the best way to tell these stories.
A calendar full of adventure
With the Battle of the Rohirrim on December 13th and The Hunt for Gollum scheduled to hit theaters in 2026, fans of this saga have a lot to look forward to. Each new installment promises to expand Tolkien’s universe in ways we can only imagine.
In this new age of franchises and creative collaborations, The Lord of the Rings is set to delight a new generation, while keeping longtime fans on the edge of their seats, eager to discover what new chapters will be written in the legendary Middle Earth. .