Amazon’sLord of the RingsTV Series Costs Nearly Half a Billion Dollars for Its First Season Alone

It turn out mediate - dry land does n’t add up cheap . Amazon Studios is spend an amazing $ 465 million to make itsLord of the Ringsprequel show … specifically , the show ’s first season . That ’s over $ 150 million more than Peter Jackson ’s three Lord of the Rings movie cost to make . That ’s more than thegross domestic productof 10 countries . That ’s a flock .

The news comes from the New Zealand news siteStuffand the New Zealand government ’s Official Information Act , and was confirmed by theHollywood Reporter . Even though we do n’t have sex how many episode will be in the first season , we acknowledge each time of year of Game of Thrones used to cost amere $ 100 million , so this is pretty much absurd .

Of course , you need a plushy budget to truly get mediate - earth to life with the grandeur it deserves , and the show ’s prescribed verbal description somewhat clearly lays out where the money ’s going : “ Lord of the Rings brings to screen for the very first fourth dimension the grand legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle - earthly concern ’s history . This epic drama is set thousands of year before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien ’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings , and will take viewers back to an era in which great tycoon were forged , kingdoms arise to glory and fell to ruin , unlikely heroes were tested , hope hang up by the fine of threads , and the nifty scoundrel that ever flowed from Tolkien ’s playpen peril to cover all the world in dark . Beginning in a time of proportional repose , the serial follows an ensemble casting of grapheme , both familiar and new , as they confront the long - feared re - emersion of evilness to Middle - earth . From the darkest profoundness of the Misty Mountains , to the majestic forests of the pixie - Washington of Lindon , to the breathtaking island realm of Númenor , to the furthermost reaches of the map , these kingdom and character will carve out legacy that populate on long after they are gone . ”

Pictured: Jeff Bezos.

Pictured: Jeff Bezos.Image: New Line Cinema

Knowing Amazon has in effect written the adaptation of an unseen part of Tolkien ’s beyond - epic fantasy a blank check is — or should be — exciting . Instead , it just feels … gross . Maybe it would n’t make me so disquieted if Amazon was n’t alsosquashing unionsand pull its workers tourinate in bottle . This Lord of the Rings show feels entirely emblematic of the ship’s company ’s lewd wealth , and that its workers are literally meet so Amazon can make a wildly overindulgent show about some dumb ELF track down around . And this $ 465 million budget does n’t include the $ 250 million Amazon paid just for the rights to make the show .

I ’m certain the show will be expert and look not bad , and I hope you ’re not as consternated as I am . The show will probably be heavy and look even estimable . I just do n’t know if I ’ll be able to stomach watch it .

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