Embracer Group intends to acquire Middle-earth Enterprises.

The Embracer Group’s transmedia strategy will undergo a major change when the rights to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films and video games become available.

The Ogre Embracer Group has reached an agreement to acquire Middle-earth Enterprises, a division of The Saul Zaentz Company that owns the worldwide rights to films, video games, board games, merchandise, theme parks and stage productions related to The Lord’s fantasy literature. The Rings and The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. Middle-earth Enterprises will enter the new Embracer Freemode operating group and continue to operate independently, working closely with Embracer Freemode leadership and other Embracer operating groups to expand opportunities, grow and synergy.

Embracer Group acquires intellectual property rights to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit https://t.co/OqOHRzH3dV

— Deadline in Hollywood (@DEADLINE) August 18, 2022

Rights to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Movies and Video Games Coming Soon to Embracer Group

Lars Wingefors, founder and CEO of Embracer Group, said:

I am thrilled that The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, one of the most epic fantasy franchises in the world, will be joining our family, opening up more transmedia opportunities, including synergy across all of our subsidiaries. I’m excited to see what the future holds for this IP with Freemode and Asmodee. In the future, we also look forward to working with existing and new external licensees for our growing intellectual property portfolio.

Marty Glick, COO of The Saul Zaentz Company added:

Over the past half century, we have been honored to manage the rights to Tolkien, so fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit everywhere can enjoy award-winning epic films, thought-provoking video games, theatrical performances, premium products and derivative products of all kinds. We can only rejoice that the Embracer Group is taking on this responsibility and we are confident that this company will take it to new heights and into new dimensions while respecting the spirit of these great literary works.

Embracer Group plans with Middle-earth Enterprises

Major upcoming titles set in Middle-earth in which Middle-earth Enterprises has a financial interest include the Amazon Prime Video television series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which premieres September 2 and takes place thousands of years before. The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings; the animated film The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim (Warner Bros. Animation), scheduled for release in 2024; and the mobile game The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth (Electronic Arts).

Other possibilities include exploring additional films based on iconic characters such as Gandalf, Aragorn, Gollum, Galadriel, Eowyn and other characters from J. R. R. Tolkien’s literary works and continuing to provide fans with new opportunities to explore this fictional world through merchandise and other impressions.