Embracer acquires rights to Tolkien-related IP, teases new LOTR films
Enlarge / A classic photo of famed author J.R.R. Tolkien, modified to reflect the new steward of his most famed intellectual property as of this week's megaton acquisition announcement. (credit: Getty Images / Sam Machkovech)
Swedish game publisher Embracer Group has racked up headlines in the past few years thanks to megaton acquisitions of video game studios, and on Thursday morning, the company announced it has grown further still. Its latest acquisition spree includes one surprising company outside its usual business purview: Middle-earth Enterprises.
This company is better known as the exclusive handler of all Lord of the Rings and Hobbit novels, along with all intellectual property derived directly from those J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy masterworks. The financial terms of this deal with previous handler the Saul Zaentz Company were not disclosed, but Embracer is already eager to tease brand-new films featuring the aforementioned novels' characters.
No production plans have been set for new films just yet; rather, Embracer says in a press release that it wants to "explore additional movies based on iconic characters such as Gandalf, Aragorn, Gollum, Galadriel, Eowyn, and other characters from the literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien." The deal has a logical connection to Embracer's existing business in the form of LOTR-themed board games already being produced by its subsidiary, Asmodee, while it's hard to imagine Embracer not immediately assigning one of its many wholly owned video game studios to the franchise in one way or another. Embracer has yet to suggest plans to produce a Tolkien-themed video game, however. Instead, its Thursday announcement hinted to "new opportunities for fans to explore this fictive world through merchandising and other experiences."