Whatever you think of The Rings of Power, you can’t deny the power this franchise has in terms of its fellowship. There are reports going around that this is all part of a new trilogy rather than the end of the road, but really this feels less like an ending and more like a transition.
The Hunt for Gollum is arriving in December 2027 as the first of a new batch of films, with new faces joining the fold. That has more to do with the fact the cast are getting older — Ian McKellen is in his 80s now, still gamely donning the grey as Gandalf, while Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn has passed to Jamie Dornan. But one thing is for sure: the fellowship lives on, and that chapter is going to get the send-off it deserves.
The Rings of Power itself is something of a Marmite experience, and still Amazon Prime are carrying on with new seasons despite the overall cost of these productions.
And when I say cost, I mean cost. $250 million just for the TV rights alone, Season 1 north of $450 million, and a five-season commitment worth over $1 billion. It’s the most expensive series ever made, and they’re seeing it through to the end no matter what anyone thinks of it.
Though that’s partly down to the Tolkien estate, who reportedly collect a kill fee of around $20 million per unmade season if Amazon walks away early. Either way, someone’s collecting, precious.
Written by Craig
From gaming industry headlines and entertainment, Craig covers the stories everyone's talking about — alongside his own published works.