The story
Thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Middle-earth's Second Age begins in the aftermath of the Dark Lord Morgoth's defeat. Elves, Dwarves, Men and the wandering Harfoots each sense a new darkness stirring, as Sauron rises in Morgoth's place and the fateful rings of power are forged, setting kingdoms and friendships on a collision course.
Why it matters
Amazon's 2017 deal for the Tolkien TV rights came with a multi-season commitment expected to exceed US$1 billion, which would make it the most expensive television series ever made. Its debut drew 25 million viewers in 24 hours, then Prime Video's biggest premiere, showing how far a streamer would go for a flagship franchise.
Notable facts
- Amazon acquired the global television rights in November 2017 for close to US$250 million, before any production costs. (source)
- Amazon said 25 million viewers watched in the first 24 hours, the service's biggest premiere at the time. (source)
- The first season was filmed in New Zealand, where Peter Jackson's films were made, before production moved to the United Kingdom. (source)
- Per Amazon's deal with the Tolkien Estate, the series is not a continuation of Peter Jackson's film trilogies. (source)