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[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

https://embracer.com/release/embrac...d-the-hobbit-literary-works-by-j-r-r-tolkien/

Embracer Group AB (”Embracer”), through its wholly owned subsidiary Freemode[1], has entered into an agreement to acquire Middle-earth Enterprises, a division of The Saul Zaentz Company, which owns a vast intellectual property catalogue and worldwide rights to motion pictures, video games, board games, merchandising, theme parks and stage productions relating to the iconic fantasy literary works The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as matching rights in other Middle-earth-related literary works authorized by the Tolkien Estate and HarperCollins, which have yet to be explored.

Back in February the rumored asking price was a cool 2 billie. And the rumor also said it included pretty much what is said above so it stands to reason that the purchase price was around the 2B mark.

https://variety.com/2022/film/news/lord-of-the-rings-hobbit-tolkien-zaentz-rights-sale-1235176036/It

The Zaentz Co. holdings encompass rights to exploit “LOTR” and “The Hobbit” properties in film, video games, merchandising, live events and theme parks. It also includes limited matching rights should the Tolkien estate decide to make movies or other content based on two compilations of Tolkien writings that were published after his death in 1973: “The Silmarillion” and “The Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-Earth.”

Does not include distribution rights to previous movies or TV rights (Amazon paid 250MM for those, which presumably include animated and live action, up to 8 episodes per season).

 

[Lasha]

What about the Games workshop game,?

 

[Nobody_Important]

 

[DKehoe]

What about the Games workshop game,?

Presumably their contract will still last as long as it’s written to last for. The new rights holders will just get to say what happens to that license once it expires.

 

[Jennings]

Shadow of Mordor 3 seems a fleeting hope at best.

 

[Pegasus Actual]

I've only got a passing understanding of Tolkien rights. Let me see if I got this... Amazon is making some show based on Tolkien stuff that isn't The Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings Trilogy proper, it's based on Silmarillion and others.

These rights... are for Hobbit and LOTR. For 2 billion? So they can make games off this license... cool... whatever... and they can remake The Hobbit and LOTR movies? Or try to turn them into a TV show I guess? Seems like a losing proposition, what am I missing?

 

[Griffon]

I hope to be alive to see what happens when the Lord of the Ring copyrights expire in 2044 and it all becomes public domain. It's gonna be wild.

 

[sankt-Antonio]

Isnt it kind of ceap to get the LotR right for 2bill? They have to be worth more then Bungie was for Sony etc.

 

[AJUMP23]

I saw Randy Pitchford was excited to do something with the rights, and Gearbox is Embracer group. I asked him to please not do anything.

 

[Melon Husk]

Please buy rights to the Battle for Middle-Earth games aswell. Bring them back.

 

[Davesky]

 

[CGNoire]

Gollum 2 & 3 on there way.