Spoilers Lord of the Rings TV series

[kirk55555]

This is Lord of the Rings. If there is a more "sacred" Fantasy story when it comes to not making changes, I can't think of any. Its not like The Hobbit, which got some people irritated (including myself) with its pretty much 100% terrible changes. This is LotR in general we're talking about. Gandalf isn't going to get turned into a human, or have some lame, generic origin story. The show would be burned alive worse then pretty much any show before it if they fucked it up that badly.

There are a bunch of things they could do for a TV show without even doing The Hobbit levels of stupid changes, so if something gets made I doubt we'll see some extreme changes to any of the classic LotR characters. I could see new characters in a story set at a different time that gets cameos by, say, Gandalf or Elrond, but I seriously doubt we'll see something that's just a complete middle finger to what Tolkien expressly wrote about a character like Gandalf. There is a difference between making one of the dwarves in The Hobbit film wantto hook with with a non-Canon elf lady and completely screwing up one of the most popular characters in the franchise.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I actually think this is a good idea...I just think it's far too soon. Wait at least 20, 30 more years. While not perfect, Jackson's films were so damn good that I don't need a retelling anytime soon. I also think doing it in television format can bring some new things to the table, least of all of the various smaller plot lines and characters that were omitted in the films.

However, I've been saying for years now that Harry Potter would actually be really good as an ongoing series. It's a better fit as a series and it would be closer adaptation, as oppose to the films that dumped *so* much material.

It's just a pity the rights for The Silmarillion aren't available because that book is a much better fit for television than even Harry Potter.

Would it have been so hard to read the actual article:
(boldface added)

You beat me to it. Reading is apparently hard.

 

[Skywalker]

Since the Tolkien Estate are actively attempting to sell the TV rights, and since Christopher Tolkien's feelings on Peter Jackson's movies are very well-known, I have to assume that the Tolkien Estate intends to be far more involved with this prospective TV production than they were able to be with the films (which was, essentially, null). I'm certainly not against the idea. By the time a deal is struck and production kicks off and the first episode debuts, it'll probably be at least a couple of years, anyway. Jackson's movies will always be there but I'd be very curious to see how the story works in the TV medium, where they have more time to play with.

 

[Gaith]

^ Indeed. Given Christopher Tolkien's hostility toward the movies, my best guesses are A) the Estate is changing course, and maybe he's less involved than he used to be, or B) given that odd detail about all the characters not necessarily being available, maybe the Estate is shopping some other Middle-Earth series far removed from the events of the War of the Ring that JRR wrote so much about and that Christopher is so protective of? Maybe a show about the early days of Gondor or something would nettle him less? Either way, it does seem like a new chapter of sorts.

 

[Hound of UIster]

Tolkien himself was very negative about any potential adaptations and only sold the rights to payoff a very large tax bill that'd have left him insolvent (shades of Peter David). There was actually a script for an animated adaptation that he went through and took a piss on metaphorically.

No I haven't read the books but then when it comes to bringing books to tv and movies you always can make changes that you think might work better for that medium.

This is the sort of outlook is why fans don't want Hollywood touching their sacred cows when modern day writers are willing to ignore the very fundamentals of these works because of the cool factor or because they think they know better.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

^ Indeed. Given Christopher Tolkien's hostility toward the movies, my best guesses are A) the Estate is changing course, and maybe he's less involved than he used to be, or B) given that odd detail about all the characters not necessarily being available, maybe the Estate is shopping some other Middle-Earth series far removed from the events of the War of the Ring that JRR wrote so much about and that Christopher is so protective of? Maybe a show about the early days of Gondor or something would nettle him less? Either way, it does seem like a new chapter of sorts.

That's my biggest hope. Maybe even The Silmarillion itself but I doubt that'll happen while Christopher is still alive. But perhaps some of Tolkien's other Middle-Earth works could be build upon. I still think a Lord of the Rings series can work (with enough time passed from the Jackson films) but Tolkien's works would be more interesting.

 

[DigificWriter]

Would it have been so hard to read the actual article:
(boldface added)

I know what the article says; this project still isn't happening.

Warner Bros. can "talk to the Tolkien Estate" all they want; Christopher Tolkien isn't going to actually give them the TV rights to anything having to do with his father's literary works.

The man disowned his eldest son for a while over the latter wanting to develop a positive and collaborative relationship with Peter Jackson and Co. on the LotR films, withdrew his legal objections to production of The Hobbit films only because Warner Bros. paid him money to make the lawsuit he'd leveled against them go away, and has never retracted any of the things he said about said films or about adaptations of his father's works in general.

 

[Hound of UIster]

Better he be protective of his father's work than to sell out like Brian Herbert.

 

[USS Firefly]

I prefer they make a show about the Magician by Robert Feist.

 

[Relayer1]

http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/The_New_Shadow

 

[Mudd]

Christopher Tolkien is the executor of the Tolkien Estate, and he has a hardline negative view of his father's works being adapted into other mediums and will not allow any more adaptations to be made.

Uh-huh.

Tolkien Estate is looking to sell the television rights to the iconic fantasy series to the tune of $200-250 million, and has approached Netflix and HBO as well.

Young Master Christopher <snicker> likes money.

 

[Gaith]

I prefer they make a show about the Magician by Robert Feist.

And I'm still waiting for updates on that 8-part BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman's Northern Lights (The Golden Compass).

That's my biggest hope. Maybe even The Silmarillion itself but I doubt that'll happen while Christopher is still alive. But perhaps some of Tolkien's other Middle-Earth works could be build upon.

Of course, then, the question becomes "how much mass appeal does Middle-Earth really have outside the War of the Ring, and maybe it'd be both cheaper and more artistically freeing to do some new, generic fantasy world show?"

 

[JD]

Hmm, if this is an direct adapation of the LOTR trilogy, I'm curious, but not excited. On the other hand, if this a new story set in Middle Earth, that I would actually be excited for. It's a great world, and a TV series that takes place outside of the books could explore it in a lot more depth.

 

[JD]

And I'm still waiting for updates on that 8-part BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman's Northern Lights (The Golden Compass).

Of course, then, the question becomes "how much mass appeal does Middle-Earth really have outside the War of the Ring, and maybe it'd be both cheaper and more artistically freeing to do some new, generic fantasy world show?"

Shadow of Mordor, Shadow of War, Children of Hurin, and The Tale of Beren and Luthien all appear to have been pretty popular, so there appears to be at least some interest.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Of course, then, the question becomes "how much mass appeal does Middle-Earth really have outside the War of the Ring, and maybe it'd be both cheaper and more artistically freeing to do some new, generic fantasy world show?"

And how many people were aware of Game of Thrones before it was made into a series? It didn't become a huge success simple because of the fans of the books.

 

[Gaith]

^ Well, sure - which then suggests the question of how racy the Estate would permit such a series to get. I still haven't seen GoT, but from what I've heard, blood and bosoms were big general audience draws in the early going...

 

[DigificWriter]

Young Master Christopher <snicker> likes money.

Christopher Tolkien actually doesn't want to sell the television rights to LotR, and you can tell by the specifics of what is being offered and asked for: limited 'bird rights' for between 200-250 million paid upfront.

The guy is a miser who is simply seeing if there's anyone out there foolish enough to pay exhorbitant amounts of money just to be able to "stand" in the Middle-earth sandbox.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Meh. Not really interested in a Lord of the Rings tv show.

I get it from a business point of view, but, they could probably get a different literary franchise for much less, risk less money, but potentially win more. What's left on the table for Lord of the Rings? They are going to spend a ton to get the rights--if the estate sells, then have to spend a ton to make it at least compare to the movies.... how successful will it have to be to be profitable?

Lots of other fantasy series out there... they should take a look.

 

[FreezeC77]

I wouldnt really hold a high opinion of the Tolkien family being hardcore backers of thematically accurate product.

The games Shadow of Mordor, Shadow of War have sold millions of copies and feature a Dunedain Ranger named Talion who is brought back to life by the spirit of the elf Celebrimbor(who crafted the rings of power) merging with his body.

The sequel has Shelob with a female human form...

 

[fireproof78]

No I haven't read the books but then when it comes to bringing books to tv and movies you always can make changes that you think might work better for that medium. Plus while you clearly want the popularity of the movies/books to bring people to the show you also would most likely want to add some new wrinkles to make your show feel more unique and not just like your copying everything from the books or the movies.

Jason

As much as I hate using the word sacred around entertainment media, that is exactly how Middle Earth is treated. I have been on a variety of forums, including theonering.net and there are parts of that forum where the films are not spoken about, and only the books are regarded.

The changes to the Hobbit was enough to set that forum on fire over those changes, especially with Tauriel, the implied relationship/romance between Gandalf and Galadriel, etc. etc.

This is one of the places that "make it feel unique" doesn't always fly well.

Better he be protective of his father's work than to sell out like Brian Herbert.

Indeed.

Meh. Not really interested in a Lord of the Rings tv show.

I get it from a business point of view, but, they could probably get a different literary franchise for much less, risk less money, but potentially win more. What's left on the table for Lord of the Rings? They are going to spend a ton to get the rights--if the estate sells, then have to spend a ton to make it at least compare to the movies.... how successful will it have to be to be profitable?

Lots of other fantasy series out there... they should take a look.

I think they should talk to Sanderson about Mistborn or Stormlight series. He has been pretty open with developing games and the like around his series, so that could be a possibility.

Or, Jim Butcher's "Codex Alera" if they want fantasy. Personally, I would rather see another take at the Dresden Files.

Or, Dune, for pity sake!