Warner Brothers Confirms New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movies in Development

One of the most beloved film franchises will be expanding yet again. Warner Brothers is confirming the news that new Lord of the Rings movies are indeed in the works.

With the success of last year’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Amazon, the news doesn’t come as a big surprise. But the details are currently scarce about what a big screen return to Middle Earth will look like for fans. But here’s what we know.

Warner Brothers co-chairs and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy have said they’re honored to be taking on a new project that is based on the J.R.R. Tolkien books as the author’s universe still remains “largely unexplored on film.”

“Twenty years ago, New Line took an unprecedented leap of faith to realize the incredible stories,
characters, and world of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ on the big screen,” De Luca and Abdy say in a recently released statement. “The result was a landmark series of films that have been embraced by
generations of fans. But for all the scope and detail lovingly packed into the two trilogies, the vast, complex, and dazzling universe dreamed up by J.R.R. Tolkien remains largely unexplored on film.”

“The opportunity to invite fans deeper into the cinematic world of Middle-earth is an honor, and we are excited to partner with Middle-earth Enterprises and Embracer on this adventure,” they add.

Embracer Group, for those that aren’t aware, is a Swedish gaming company that owns the rights to both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

There Are Multiple New Lord of the Rings Movies Covered in New Deal

This new deal is said to cover “multiple” new Lord of the Rings movies based on Tolkien’s books. And for LOTR fans that are nervous about exactly what Warner Brothers has in mind for the next venture, there is good news. Peter Jackson, along with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens (Jackson’s main collaborates on the original films), have revealed that both Warner Brothers and Embracer are keeping them “in the loop every step of the way.”

“We look forward to speaking with them further to hear their vision for the franchise moving forward,” the trio said to Variety. “Following our recent acquisition of Middle-earth Enterprises, we’re thrilled to embark on this new collaborative journey with New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures, bringing the incomparable world of J.R.R. Tolkien back to the big screen in new and exciting ways.”

“We understand how cherished these works are, and working together with our partners at New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures, we plan to honor the past, look to the future, and adhere to the strongest level of quality and production values,” they added.

For the fans that might be wondering if the new films would involve stories from the Silmarillion, those rights are still owned by the Tolkien Estate.

We’ll keep you posted as more news surfaces on the new Lord of the Rings movies and what stories they will tell.