Wow. Universal in talks with Tolkien Family for Rights to Middle Earth

[WaltD4Me]

Wow. Universal is rumored to be in talks with Tolkien family for theme park rights to Middle Earth. The theme park wars continue.....

Link >>> http://www.hypable.com/2013/01/02/lord-of-the-rings-hobbit-theme-park/

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Universal Orlando has had huge success with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure since its opening in June 2010.

With that in mind, and that great Potter card up their sleeve, there are rumors that the park is talking with the Tolkien family about a Middle Earth theme park.

If rumors are to be believed, this is all happening thanks to the success of The Wizarding World. A reputable user in Orlando United’s forum, where mind-numbing talk of theme parks runs rampant, says Universal asked Warner Bros. to approach the Tolkien’s first. The park asked the studio to make first contact because of the existing relationship Tolkien and WB have built to create The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies.

Warner Bros. told the Tolkien’s about the success of The Wizarding World theme park and how the final product was loyal to J.K. Rowling’s story and very well received by fans. Reportedly, the Tolkien’s even spoke to Rowling herself. It was only after all this that Universal and the Tolkien’s began developing ideas.

It’s important to remember that this is all rumor at this point. It’s very interesting how Universal used The Wizarding World’s success to make a go at Middle Earth.

If the rumor is true, there are still many questions to be answered: Where would the Middle Earth land be built? Would the park be marketed as Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, or Middle Earth? To what extent will Peter Jackson be involved? Do we get to pretend to be Gandalf and not let people pass?
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[duckie1231]

This should happen so Disney can fire back with Marvel and or Star Wars. I love this kind of competition.

 

[lugnut33]

That would be the one thing that would draw me to Universal. Love LOTR.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Cool!! This would be awesome. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around how this could be a "for the masses" type of land since so much of the LoTR trilogy seems more adult to me. I mean, those Orcs are simply horrifying!! But more fodder for Halloween Horror Nights, for sure
But, there could easily be a country-type Hobbiton and a zen-like Elf village. Translating the books/movies into attractions is harder for me to visualize. Maybe a maze-like, scary walkthrough to avoid the giant hairy spider? The only attractions I can visualize are dark rides of one scary nature or another. But hell, I want my picture with Gollum/Smeagol!

 

[skier_pete]

Meh, don't care if Universal gets Lord of the Rings. To me its not as good theme park fodder as Harry Potter. Almost all the good action based stuff in the movie are battles. How do you make a theme park attraction around a battle? (Answer: you don't) Therefore that leaves you with a "Soarin' over the Shire" type ride, I suppose.

Not to say they can't make something good out of it, I'm sure they can, but it won't entice me to Universal.

 

[sayhello]

That's really interesting. Just the other day, I read an article about how much Christopher Tolkien *HATED* Peter Jackson's adaptations of his father's books. He's still the head of the Tolkien family as far as I know. He's always been extremely stingy with allowing people to do *anything* as "officially sanctioned by Tolkien's estate". (He had no choice with the movies. His father had already long since sold the movie rights to the books). I know a University that produced a ballet version of one of the peripheral LOTR stories, and was told by Tolkien's estate they couldn't use any of the character names from Tolkien's story, or the title.

And the Tolkien estate is currently suing Warner Bros for over $80 million in damages for "overstepping their rights when it comes to merchandising the property and The Lord of the Rings. "

I find it hard to believe that in the middle of all that, they're discussing a theme park with Warner Bros & Universal. But who knows. Stranger things have happened. Perhaps enough money will talk.

Sayhello

 

[doconeill]

Back when Universal announced HP, I said that Disney should have countered with LOTR...apparently they may miss that boat too...

However, this is a years-long rumor too...which is probably heating up again with the success of The Hobbit.

But I do think if this gets announced, Disney will answer with Star Wars.

That's really interesting. Just the other day, I read an article about how much Christopher Tolkien *HATED* Peter Jackson's adaptations of his father's books. He's still the head of the Tolkien family as far as I know. He's always been extremely stingy with allowing people to do *anything* as "officially sanctioned by Tolkien's estate". (He had no choice with the movies. His father had already long since sold the movie rights to the books). I know a University that produced a ballet version of one of the peripheral LOTR stories, and was told by Tolkien's estate they couldn't use any of the character names from Tolkien's story, or the title.

Christopher seems to have soured as time went on. He wasn't happy with the changes - changes that likely had to be made for the sake of a movie. More recently, however, he says that they "eviscerated" the books. If you look into it, however, he really has little to do with the movies or gets anything from them, since JRR sold the rights back in 1969, for a "paltry" 100k GBP (actually a decent sum at the time), so his kids could afford to pay their inheritance tax in the UK.

And the Tolkien estate is currently suing Warner Bros for over $80 million in damages for "overstepping their rights when it comes to merchandising the property and The Lord of the Rings. "

This is all over WB's plans to license the theme for use in slot machines, which the Tolkien estate calls offensive, and they are retroactively including an online slot machine game, using the argument that the merchandising rights did not include electronic or digital rights - yet they don't seem to be complaining about web sites, the various computer games, etc.

It may all come down to interpreting the contract, but on my non-professional reading of the articles, it appears to be a way of the estate saying, "Hey, you've made billions on this...remember where you got it from?"

 

[sayhello]

Christopher seems to have soured as time went on. He wasn't happy with the changes - changes that likely had to be made for the sake of a movie. More recently, however, he says that they "eviscerated" the books. If you look into it, however, he really has little to do with the movies or gets anything from them, since JRR sold the rights back in 1969, for a "paltry" 100k GBP (actually a decent sum at the time), so his kids could afford to pay their inheritance tax in the UK.

It's true that Christopher (and the Tolkien estate) have had very little to do with the movies because JRR already sold off the rights. That's why I find it odd that this article talks about WB talking to the Tolkiens for Universal, since they had this relationship built up by doing the movies. That just wasn't the case.

This is all over WB's plans to license the theme for use in slot machines, which the Tolkien estate calls offensive, and they are retroactively including an online slot machine game, using the argument that the merchandising rights did not include electronic or digital rights - yet they don't seem to be complaining about web sites, the various computer games, etc.

It may all come down to interpreting the contract, but on my non-professional reading of the articles, it appears to be a way of the estate saying, "Hey, you've made billions on this...remember where you got it from?"

This is interesting. I hadn't heard that that is what they were fighting over. You have to wonder where the breaking point is for acceptable merchandising vs. unacceptable...

Sayhello

 

[Golf4food]

Meh, don't care if Universal gets Lord of the Rings. To me its not as good theme park fodder as Harry Potter. Almost all the good action based stuff in the movie are battles. How do you make a theme park attraction around a battle? (Answer: you don't) Therefore that leaves you with a "Soarin' over the Shire" type ride, I suppose.

Not to say they can't make something good out of it, I'm sure they can, but it won't entice me to Universal.

I'm with you. I love the movies but don't see any way to make them into park attractions. You could make great themed areas for walking through, restaurants perhaps, gift shops... but rides? Don't see it.

 

[doconeill]

I'm with you. I love the movies but don't see any way to make them into park attractions. You could make great themed areas for walking through, restaurants perhaps, gift shops... but rides? Don't see it.

What? No "Mines of Moria" dark ride? Soarin' w/Giant Eagles over Middle-Earth? Walk through Rivendell? Eat at the Prancing Pony, or beers at the Green Dragon? A surprise dance segment with Tom Bombadil (oh, wait, he was "eviscerated" from the books...)?

 

[zulemara]

Interesting especially since Eisner could have jumped on board to make the movies but didn't because he didn't want anymore blockbuster type films. If US gets it that'll b two franchises disbey lost out on. BUT it makes great competition.