Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has announced that the first two new films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of The Rings will be released in 2026.
The creative team is in the early stages of developing the script. While there are no story details being shared, these will be the first major live-action Middle Earth films released since The Hobbit movies and Zaslav said the first film will focus on “storylines yet to be told.”
It was also confirmed that The Lord of the Rings trilogy director Peter Jackson will be involved as a producer on the projects along with his writing partners, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens.
According to Zaslav, they “will be involved every step of the way”. So, that’s exciting! He went on to talk about the studio’s goal in general saying, that storytelling is the heart of the company “as we strive to return the luster to Warner Bros. Pictures.”
He added: “Lord of the Rings is one of the most successful and revered franchises in history and presents a significant opportunity for theatrical business.”
It was previously explained by the CEO of Embracer Group’s operative group Freemode that they are 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.”
Also from the very beginning, Jackson has said that “Warner Brothers and Embracer have kept us 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.”
With Jackson jumping on board, it sounds like WB may have given them creative reign over what kind of Middle Earth stories will be told.
I’m just glad that they aren’t remaking the original trilogy and that they are looking to expand and tell more stories set in this beloved fantasy universe.