Amazon Hires J.A. Bayona to Direct LORD OF THE RINGS Series
The director of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is heading to Middle-earth.
As reported by Deadline, Amazon has hired filmmaker J.A. Bayona to direct the first two episodes of its upcoming Lord of the Rings streaming series for Prime Video. In addition, Bayona will also serve as an executive producer for the show, along with his producing partner Belén Atienza.
While plot details for the new series have not been announced yet, a previously released map tied to the show points toward the story taking place during the post-War of Wrath period in the Second or Third Age of Midde-earth's history. The upcoming show will be spearheaded by writers JD Payne and Patrick McKay. Amazon has also reportedly been in talks with director Peter Jackson about his potential involvement with the series, but the current status of those talks is unknown. Jackson previously directed the big screen Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies for New Line Cinema. Meanwhile, director J.A. Bayona's previous filmmaking credits include Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, A Monster Calls, The Impossible, and The Orphanage.
Welcome to our #LOTRonPrime fellowship! https://t.co/XyepgGwA2u
— The Lord of the Rings on Prime (@LOTRonPrime) July 3, 2019
Amazon's $250 million agreement with the Tolkien estate, HarperCollins, and New Line Cinema covers the small screen rights to the Lord of the Rings franchise for a five-season commitment. Likewise, the deal also includes the potential for a spin-off series. And it's looking like the whole endeavor could end up costing more than Smaug's treasure. All in, the budget estimate for the proposed five-season run is over $1 billion.
An exact release date for the new Lord of the Rings series has not been announced yet, but the show will debut exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $119 per year or $13 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month.
Sources: @LOTRonPrime via Deadline
