In light of Warner Bros. Discovery’s plans to produce new films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’sLord of the Rings, an Amazon Prime Video executive has weighed in on how this will affect the platform’sRings of Powerseries, which Amazon has invested a lot into.
In an unexpected development, Warner Bros. Discovery made the move to acquire film rights to the IP and forge ahead withnewLord of the Ringsfilm projectsin conjunction with New Line Cinema. This announcement was seen as worrying for Amazon, which spent an unprecedented amount to secure similar rights and develop its ownLord of the Rings-based project in the big-budget streaming exclusiveRings of Power.
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In a recent comment made toVariety, Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, addressed the situation and assured fans that the move would not affectRings of Powergoing forward. When asked about a possible oversaturation ofLord of The Ringscontent in light of the Warner Bros. move andthe upcomingRings of Powerseason 2, which began filming ahead of the first season’s conclusion, Salke’s response was markedly confident. “We’ll see,” she said. “We love our original series. We’re extremely proud of it, and invested long-term. So, we definitely think there’s enough fan love to sustain ours for a long time.” The team behind the show has also promised changes based on criticisms received and to explore more lore in futureRings of Powerseasons, assurances that might sway some more undecided viewers to stay the course when the second season premieres.
While those over at Amazon seem unbothered, there is little doubt that the move by Warner Bros was strongly related to theRings of Power.Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslavreportedly quoted the success at Amazon to investors when announcing the decision, giving Amazon CEO Andy Jassy credit for the success. Interestingly, the two executives at the head of Warner Bros.' push for the franchise are Mike De Luca and Pamela Abdy, who previously worked for MGM up until Amazon acquired it. While this is almost guaranteed to be a coincidence, it is curious.
Despite Selke’s confidence, the situation could potentially get bleak for Amazon. The first season ofRings of Poweralready had to contend with the successfulGame of ThronesspinoffHouse of the Dragon,which has also been renewed for a second season. Analysis of the available data showed thatHouse Of The Dragonstacked up favorably againstRings Of Powerdespite coming in at a significantly smaller budget. While this was not a problem for Amazon on the whole, only the future will tell howRings of Powerholds up with the addition of moreLord of the Ringscontent.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 1 is available on Amazon Prime Video.
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