If Amazon and its CEO Jeff Bezos get what they want, a Lord of the Rings series could be headed your way.
According to Variety, Amazon Studios is involved in discussions with Warner Bros. Television and the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien to develop a series based on the best-selling fantasy novels.
No deal has been struck, but the fact Bezos is reportedly highly involved is a sign he’s serious about a potential deal.
As Variety explains, “The pursuit of the Lord of the Rings is in line with a new programming mandate dictated this year by Bezos, who, months before [former President Roy] Price departed, ordered him to shift Amazon Studios away from niche, naturalistic series such as Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle and toward large-scale genre programming with potential for broad international appeal.”
Deadline, meanwhile, reports Netflix also could be interested in the series, which reportedly will cost between $200-250 million for the rights to the novels.
HBO also was reportedly approached about a deal but ultimately passed because of how much money it already spends on Game of Thrones.