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Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Announces New Lord of the Rings Movie
David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, recently revealed that a new Peter Jackson movie based on The Lord of the Rings is currently in the works and is expected to be released around 2026.
The upcoming film will feature fresh storylines developed by Jackson and his longtime collaborators, Fran Walsh and Philippa Jane Boyens. Zaslav shared this exciting update during an analyst call, indicating that the project is still in the early stages of script development.
Implications for Embracer Group
This development comes as welcome news for Embracer Group, specifically its Embracer Freemode division’s Middle-earth Enterprises, which holds the rights for creating movies and games based on both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, originally penned by renowned author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Zaslav expressed his enthusiasm for the forthcoming wave of content, including the potential release of video games alongside the movie. Furthermore, he mentioned the upcoming anime film titled The War of the Rohirrim, based on Tolkien’s works and set in Rohan, approximately 183 years prior to the events of The Lord of the Rings.
Zaslav emphasized that Warner Bros. Discovery will be actively involved in the production process, recognizing the immense success and cultural impact of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. Together, these franchises have grossed nearly $6 billion in box office revenue over the years, establishing themselves as iconic and lucrative properties in the entertainment industry.
Reviving the Tolkien Franchise
The CEO hinted at the potential release of accompanying video games to complement the new films, addressing the existing gap in the Tolkien franchise which has seen limited game releases since Middle-earth: Shadow of War in 2017. Notable titles include The Lord of the Rings: Gollum and The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria.
Zaslav further highlighted the underutilization of other valuable assets such as Harry Potter, Superman, and the DC Universe within the Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio. He assured that the company is actively working towards maximizing the potential of these beloved characters and narratives on a global scale.
Despite a mixed financial performance in Q1, with strong results from titles like Harry Potter: Hogwarts Legacy and challenges faced by releases like Suicide Squad, Warner Bros. Pictures achieved significant success with the Dune 2 movie, contributing over $1.8 billion to the global box office in the current year.
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