When all is said and done, Amazon's JRR Tolkien-based series could end up being one of the most fascinating shows ever created, purely from a business point of view. The Hollywood Reporter has taken a look at the deals and details behind the show, including the fact that the company included members of the New Line team and payments to the Warner Bros.-owned studio to secure the chance to use material from Peter Jackson's films in the show if needed.
Nothing has been revealed yet about what part of Tolkien's work the series will channel, though it'll largely skip what Jackson brought to the big screen, mostly because there's no sense in repeating what he's covered and the movie studios own the rights to the main LOTR and Hobbit stories. Also mentioned? Jackson has apparently had talks with Amazon about possible involvement, though likely just offering the benefit of his experience as a producer than actually running the series – he's served his time in Middle-earth, after all.
With no one in place to make the show itself yet, more interesting are the various deals in place, including that original $250 million to simply buy the rights, the fact that the contract commits Amazon to five seasons at least and that it has to start shooting the show within two years. Oh, and given the creative challenges involved, it may end up costing more than $1 billion dollars. No pressure, then...
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