Posted Fri Feb 15, 2019 at 12:05 PM PST by Steven Cohen
"I wisely started with a map" -- J.R.R. Tolkien.
In anticipation for the streaming platform's upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel series, Amazon has released an interactive map of Middle-earth via its newly launched Lord of the Rings Twitter page.
Though the map does not include any location names or other specific details, users are free to zoom and scroll around the terrain. And as pointed out by Twitter user @tolkienthot, the map apparently depicts Middle-earth during its post-War of Wrath period since it does not include Beleriand. This points to the show taking place in the Second or Third Age. You can check out Amazon's original tweet embedded below or CLICK HERE to explore the interactive map yourself.
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, pic.twitter.com/unJj1Bpde1
— The Lord of the Rings on Prime (@LOTRonPrime) February 15, 2019
While plot details for the new series have not been announced yet, 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.
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. With that said, in order to be in compliance with the contract, Amazon has to get production rolling on the project within two years. 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: Amazon, @LOTRonPrime via Deadline
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