Amazon Exec on Need for Massive Budget on ‘Lord of the Rings’ Spin-off

Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke has revealed details behind the massive budget for the streamer’s upcoming Lord of the Rings series.

Ever since word got around about the first season being developed for $465 million, which is more than Peter Jackson’s original film trilogy from the 2000s, there has been a lot of speculation regarding the amount. But now, they have been put to rest.

During The Hollywood Reporter’s recent roundtable discussion, Salke was questioned about the exorbitant price tag on the series. In Amazon’s defense, she explained that the first season will build “the infrastructure” for the series and that a large sum is required for this sort of “huge world-building show.”

She concluded her statement by admitting that the show’s success would require an enormous viewership, but they are counting on the fan following of a massive franchise like Lord of the Rings. Check out her statement below:

“This is a full season of a huge world-building show…that is really building the infrastructure of what will sustain the whole series… As for how many people need to watch Lord of the Rings? A lot. A giant, global audience needs to show up to it as appointment television, and we are pretty confident that that will happen.”

Jennifer Salke

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, too, had previously said that the television series will do what Game of Thrones did for HBO, establishing Amazon Prime as a big franchise streaming stronghold. Back in February, The Hollywood Reporter also estimated that the entire series could be valued at $1 billion.

Furthermore, it was revealed that the series would explore the Second Age of Middle-earth. The possibilities are endless, considering that in the Tolkien world, this is the age of Numenor.

Although most of the cast members will be new faces, it could bring back a few old ones, too. The show will also introduce many new locations from the fictional world, explaining the massive budget Amazon will need to create them.

However, whether fans will show up for the new show or not is the big question. Fellowship of the Rings came out two decades ago, and although The Hobbit trilogy was well received by fans ten years ago, they didn’t acquire the same success as the original trilogy.

But since the upcoming series will tell stories from a different timeline, Amazon has a good shot at getting a favorable outcome. 

The show is being developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, with both of them also serving as showrunners. Amazon is producing the series in collaboration with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, New Line Cinema, and publishing giant HarperCollins.

Currently, only two seasons have been officially ordered by the studio, though the initial deal was for five. The series is expected to premiere in 2021.

About The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an American TV series, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay for streaming on Amazon Prime. 

Set 3,000 years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the show will be set in the Second Age of Middle-earth. Beginning with a time of peace, the series will follow the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron and the forging of the rings of power.

The cast includes Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, and Dylan Smith among many others.