The unforgettable characters of J.R.R. Tolkien officially have a new home, and things are already stirring. In February, Zaentz Co. announced that they were looking to sell the rights of The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogy to new owners. This ownership, which includes the film, merchandising, gaming, and event rights, has officially been purchased by Embracer Group; and from the looks of things they have big plans ahead!
Embracer Group already has a history with the world of Middle Earth. They’re the parent company of Asmodee Group, who has already published over a dozen games involving the world of Middle Earth, including The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game and The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth. Lars Wingefors, Embracer Group’s founder, expressed his delight in the new acquisition.
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The rights to the inspiring books previously belonged to Zaentz Co., who initially purchased the rights from the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien in 1976. This was the deal that sparked Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings adaptation to life, and later on Peter Jackson’s two epic trilogies. Marty Glick, COO of the Saul Zaentz Company, also expressed approvingly of the deal.
Unforgettable Worlds, Unforgettable Tales
New Line Cinema
If you are a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved literary world, this is the dawning of a new era whether you’re ready or not. While the upcoming Rings of Power series has had its fair share of backlash regarding new characters and lore rewriting, studios are still eager to dive headfirst into Middle-Earth to see what can be expanded upon. These are much beloved characters with plenty of rich history to dig through, after all, so there’s plenty to work with. Time will tell if Embracer treats this world well, or if another dark age is upon them.
