Warner Bros. has announced that it is working on new movies of The Lord of the Rings, with the prospect of Peter Jackson returning to direct, which generates expectations among fans of the saga. This news comes amid a complicated landscape for Amazon Prime Video, which is facing negative criticism for its series The Rings of Power. Despite the controversies, the company may be considering maintaining the project in the long term.
A series to divide them all
Since its launch, The Rings of Power has been the subject of debate among viewers, who have called for its cancellation. However, canceling the series could be financially disastrous for Amazon, which has already invested large sums in production. According to reports, if Amazon decided to cancel the series before fulfilling the already agreed seasons, it would have to pay approximately 20 million dollars for each unproduced season. With two seasons already released and the third on the way, the total cost of not completing the series could reach 40 million dollars.
The first season of The Rings of Power became the most expensive series in history, with a budget close to 715 million dollars, while the second season had an investment of 364 million. In this context, it is likely that Amazon will choose to end the series in its fifth season, considering that it would be more profitable than an abrupt cancellation that would not only involve significant economic losses but also the loss of a loyal fan base.
Meanwhile, the renewed interest in the legacy of The Lord of the Rings with the new projects from Warner Bros adds an additional layer of complexity to the competition in the fantasy world, where both movies and series seek to attract and retain the audience’s attention.