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The Lord of the Rings novels are set to become a TV series, Amazon has announced.
Based on J.R.R Tolkien’s original novels, the television adaptation will include new storylines which precede the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring.
The deal also includes the rights for a potential additional spin-off season, dependent on the success of the show.
“The Lord of the Rings is a cultural phenomenon that has captured the imagination of generations of fans through literature and the big screen,” Sharon Tal Yguado, Head of Scripted Series, Amazon Studios, said.
“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.”
The Amazon Rime Original will be produced by Amazon Studios in cooperation with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins and New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Brothers Entertainment.
“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,” Matt Galsor, a representative for the Tolkien Estate and Trust and HarperCollins, said.
“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,” he added.
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The original films made almost $6bn worldwide and won a combined total of 17 Academy Awards.
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