Amazon budgets $1 billion for 'Lord Of The Rings' TV series

Amazon’s plan to resurrect The Lord of the Rings will begin with a multi-season TV series. Rooted in Middle-earth and will explore new storylines preceding J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring.

Amazon has shelled out close to $250 million for LotR‘s global rights, which is said to include the possibility of an additional spinoff.  Headed up by the company’s CEO Jeff Bezos, no details were disclosed at the time of writing, but that hasn’t stopped industry insiders from labeling the record-setting deal as insane, as that alleged $250 million price tag doesn’t account for the sky-high expenses that often come hand-in-hand with a big-budget fantasy series. Once you factor everything else in, it’s looking like the studio may end up spending $1 billion to bring Tolkien’s saga to life on the small screen.

A report says “Amazon’s megadeal for The Lord of the Rings is believed to be for five seasons, plus a potential spinoff, with insiders putting the price tag for global rights at around $250 million. Once production budgets, casting, writers, producers and visual effects are factored in, the total for the Rings series, which will be set in Middle-earth and explore storylines preceding The Fellowship of the Ring, could hit $1 billion.”