Hollywood May Spend a Quarter of a Billion Dollars for a Lord of the Rings TV Show
With HBO’s epic fantasy series Game Of Thrones coming to an end (spin-offs notwithstanding), there’s industry interest in finding another high-profile literary property, even if it’s already been turned into six films with a combined running time of two years. That’s right—streaming services Amazon and Netflix and pay cable giant HBO are reportedly eyeing Lord Of The Rings for an adaptation, per a Deadline tipster.
For those of you who somehow missed the global phenomenon of JRR Tolkien’s series, both The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring were adapted into animated films in 1977 and 1978, respectively. Then director Peter Jackson got his hands on the material and made a live-action Fellowship that came out in 2001 and starred Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen and Sean Bean (hey, GoT connection!). He followed that with The Two Towers and the Best Picture-winning Return Of The King, all of which were really long but really good. Then he was like, “If George Lucas gets to ruin his masterpiece trilogy with a terrible prequel trilogy no one asked for, then so can I” and he turned The Hobbit into three (three! Because The Silmarillion was just so relevant?) more movies that were all really boring and dumb, but don’t tell Lee Pace fans.
Are we all caught up? Great. Because the amount of money potentially being spent on turning this series into an episodic series will make you weep for our healthcare system: “The project…comes with an upfront rights payment said to be in the $200–$250 million range. That is just for the rights, before any costs for development, talent and production. It is a payment that has to be made sight unseen as there is no concept, and there are no creative auspices attached to the possible series,” per Deadline.
A quarter of a billion dollars just to be allowed to spend probably another hundred million or so turning the journey to Rivendell into a ten-hour slog with what will probably have very nice cinematography despite the fact that we’re all watching it on our phones in bed.
Celebrating Liv Tyler’s Most Age Defying and Timeless Beauty Moments
Celebrating her 16th birthday, a young Liv Tyler wears her brunette locks in natural waves with a glossy mauve lip. (1993)
At the Stealing Beauty Beverly Hills premiere, Tyler wears a sleek, side-parted up do with a soft smoky eye and glossy mauve lip. (1996)
While out in New York City, Tyler poses wearing her shoulder length brunette locks in soft curls with luminous skin. (1996)
Debuting her sleek pixie cut at the 50th Anniversary Costume Institute Gala, Tyler wears a subtle smoky eye with a natural glossy lip. (1998)
At the The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring Los Angeles premiere, Tyler wears her hair side-parted in perfectly blown out locks. (2001)
Attending the The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers premiere in New York, Tyler wears an elegant up do with luminous, sun-kissed skin.
With her hair in a sleek half up do and a hint of blush on the cheekbones, Tyler attends the 2003 Annual Awards Gala.
Wearing her long and polished brunette curls in a half up do with a sleek cat eye and glossy berry pink lip, Tyler attends the Fendi flagship store opening in New York City. (2005)
Opting for a playful, messy french braid with an exaggerated grey smoky eye, Tyler attends the Cartier and Interview Magazine Celebrate The Cartier Charity Love Bracelet. (2006)
Tyler goes full Hollywood glam at the 2007 Costume Institute Gala, wearing her hair in an elegant low ponytail with a satin red lip.
Debuting her brunette bob in soft curls with a natural face, Tyler attends the Piaget Hosts The Limelight Paris-New York Collection event. (2008)
Attending the Burberry after party during 2009 London Fashion Week, Tyler radiates with luminous skin and her hair in naturally tousled waves.
Attending the 2010 Annual Charlize Theron African Outreach project, Tyler wears her highlighted brunette curls middle parted with a glossy, coral red lip.
At the 7th Annual Chanel Tribeca Film Festival Artists Dinner, Tyler steps out wearing full bangs with a rose pink lip. (2012)
Stunning at the The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey New York premiere, Tyler wears her hair in polished curls with a vibrant coral red lip. (2012)
At the Lunchbox Fund Fall Fete 2013, Tyler wears her hair in tousled curls with a grey smoky eye and a nude lip.
Tyler steps out as she arrives at the Late Show With David Letterman taping wearing her hair in a chic half up do with luminous skin. (2014)
Back to her shoulder length locks, Tyler radiates at An Evening Honoring Valentino Lincoln Center Corporate Fund Gala. (2015)
At the 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards, Tyler wears her hair side-parted in soft curls with a berry stained lip. (2016)
Attending the The Naked Heart Foundation’s London’s Fabulous Fund Fair, Tyler wears her dark brunette locks in soft waves with a glossy, pink lip. (2017)
Watch: Matthew McConaughey Had a Nostalgic Surprise Birthday Party at His Childhood Cabin
Matthew McConaughey Had a Nostalgic Surprise Birthday Party at His Childhood Cabin
