Just before the release of the Amazon Prime Video series, Swedish video game company, Embracer Group, announced its acquisition of the Intellectual Property rights over the catalogue of The Lord of The Rings, The Hobbit, and other Middle-Earth related worker of J.R.R. Tolkien.
The division of The Saul Zaentz Company, Middle-Earth Enterprises, which holds the Intellectual Property rights to The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit of J.R.R. Tolkien have just been acquired by the huge holdings company, Embracer Group.
In a press release from Embracer Group, the acquisition was made public which includes all those under The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit franchise such as the movies, video and board games, merchandise, shows, and theme parks as well as other Middle-Earth related projects which are authorized by Tolkien's Estate and Harper Collins.
Lars Wingefors, Founder and Group CEO Embracer Group, said in the press release, “I am truly excited to have The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, one of the world’s most epic fantasy franchises join the Embracer family, opening up more transmedia opportunities including synergies across our global group.”
Wingefors expressed his excitement as they plan to expand the franchise, “I am thrilled to see what lies in the future for this IP with Freemode and Asmodee as a start within the group. Going forward, we also look forward to collaborating with both existing and new external licensees of our increasingly stronger IP portfolio.”
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Marty Glick, COO of The Saul Zaentz Company, shared, “We at the Zaentz Company have had the honor over the past half century of stewarding the Tolkien rights so that Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fans worldwide could enjoy award winning epic films, challenging video games, first rate theatre and merchandise of every variety."
Glick added, "We could not be more thrilled that it is Embracer now taking up the responsibility and we are confident their group will take it to new heights and dimensions while maintaining homage to the spirit of these great literary works.”
This deal includes the highly-anticipated series on Amazon Prime Video, The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power which will be releasing on September 2, the upcoming Warner Bros. animated film The Lord of The Rings: The War of the Rohirrim which will come out in 2024, and the mobile game of EA, The Lord of The Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth.
The deal didn't disclose the financial terms of the acquisition. Middle-earth Enterprises will be under Embracer Freemode, a new operative group within the company, and they would be retaining the leadership of Middle-earth enterprises to guide the team.
The Saul Zaentz Company acquired the rights to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit in 1976. Embracer’s operative group Asmodee Group has worked on The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit through games. All these will now be under Embracer Group.