Amazon to launch Lord of the Rings television show

‘Roseanne’ scores additional episode

LOS ANGELES, Nov 14, (Agencies): Amazon said Monday it had acquired the global television rights to “The Lord of the Rings,” based on the celebrated fantasy novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, with a multi-season commitment.

Set in Middle Earth, the adaptation will explore new storylines preceding Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring,” the internet streamer said, adding that the deal included a potential additional spin-off series.

“‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a cultural phenomenon that has captured the imagination of generations of fans through literature and the big screen,” said Sharon Tal Yguado, head of scripted series at Amazon Studios.

The Tolkien Estate had also approached Netflix and HBO, according to Hollywood entertainment website Deadline, which reported the deal came with an eye-watering upfront rights payment of around $200 million.

The production budget will likely add another $100-$150 million a season — but Amazon is seen as having deep pockets, as chairman Jeff Bezos has challenged his creative teams to come up with a prestigious fantasy series to rival “Game Of Thrones.”

“The Lord of the Rings” was named Amazon customers’ favorite book of the millennium in 1999 and Britain’s best-loved novel of all time in the BBC’s The Big Read survey in 2003.

With an A-list cast that included Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler and Orlando Bloom, Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy earned almost $3 billion worldwide, scooping 17 Oscars in total.

He followed up with a prequel trilogy based on Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” which made almost the same at the box office.

Amazon said the series would be available via the Prime Video app or online in more than 200 countries and territories, but it did not announce a release date.

“We are delighted that Amazon, with its longstanding commitment to literature, is the home of the first-ever multi-season television series for ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” said Matt Galsor, a representative for the Tolkien Estate and Trust and HarperCollins.

“Sharon and the team at Amazon Studios have exceptional ideas to bring to the screen previously unexplored stories based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s original writings.”

The revival of “Roseanne” is getting an extra episode order before it even premieres, Variety has confirmed.

Instead of the planned eight episodes, the series will now air for nine episodes this spring. ABC had officially ordered the project to series back in May.

The new series will feature the original cast — Roseanne Barr (Roseanne), John Goodman (Dan), Sara Gilbert (Darlene), Laurie Metcalf (Jackie), Michael Fishman (D.J.) and Lecy Goranson (Becky). Sarah Chalke, who played the character Becky in later seasons, will also appear in another role. Johnny Galecki, who played David, currently stars on the CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.”

Tom Werner and Bruce Helford will return as executive producers, with Barr and Gilbert also executive producing. The original series ran for nine seasons on ABC and was widely praised for its portrayal of working class Americans. The series followed the Conner family as they tried to scrape out a living in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois.

Barr was nominated for four Emmys during the shows run, winning one, in addition to five Golden Globe nominations, again winning one. Goodman received seven Emmy nominations for the series, along with four Golden Globe nominations, of which he won one. Gilbert received two Emmy nominations for the series, losing out both times in the Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category to Metcalf, who won three Emmys for her work on the show.

Season 4 of “Schitt’s Creek” gets an air date, while Nathan Lane is set to guest star on “The Blacklist.”

Pop has announced Season 4 of “Schitt’s Creek” will premiere Jan 24 at 8 pm, followed by the series premiere of “Let’s Get Physical” at 8:30 p.m. Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Daniel Levy, and Annie Murphy are returning as the Rose family in the fourth season of “Schitt’s Creek,” while series cocreators Eugene and Daniel Levy continue to executive produce. Jane Seymour (“Wedding Crashers”), Matt Jones (“Breaking Bad”), Chris Diamantopoulos (“Episodes”), and AnnaLynne McCord (“90210”) star in “Let’s Get Physical,” a modern-day comedy capturing the zeitgeist of 1980s aerobics. The series revolves around middle-aged slacker Joe Force (Jones), who makes a reluctant comeback in the fitness industry after his dad, the “Godfather of Aerobics,” unexpectedly passes away and wills Joe the broke-down family gym with eccentric provisions attached to get his actual fortune and estate.

“The Arrangement” returns to E! for a second season on March 11 at 9 pm Starring Josh Henderson, Christine Evangelista, Michael Vartan, and Lexa Doig, the drama reveals what it’s like to maintain a high-profile relationship within the confines of the public eye. “The Arrangement” was written by Jonathan Abrahams (“Mad Men”), who serves as executive producer, along with Adam Milch and Robert Duncan McNeill. Jimmy Fox of Main Event Media, Layla Smith and Gregory Lipstone of All3Media America also serve as executive producers. “The Arrangement Post Nup,” the digital companion series to the scripted program, will also return on March 11. Watch the trailer below:

Laff Mobb’s “Laff Tracks” will premiere Jan 3 at 11 pm on truTV. The stand-up comedy series, hosted by Cipha Sounds, will feature appearances by stand-up comics Mark Viera, Rachel Feinstein, Yamaneika Saunders, Nate Jackson, Ayanna Dookie, Tony Baker, and Chaunte Wayans. The series is produced by American Chainsaws Entertainment with Royal Malloy, Colt Straub, Duke Straub, and Mark Therrien serving as executive producers. Cipha also serves as co-executive producer alongside executive producers Edgar Cutino and Jamal Dedeaux, and Laff Mobb Entertainment’s Bob Sumner, Arthur Spivak, and Carlos Koustas.

Nathan Lane will guest star in the upcoming 100th episode of “The Blacklist,” which will air in January on NBC. Lane plays Abraham Stern. Loyal to no one, Stern proves that Raymond Reddington (James Spader) isn’t the only dangerous man in a three-piece suit. Using his leverage over the finances of others, he manipulates the desperate into committing illegal and immoral acts in pursuit of his ultimate goal, the claiming of a fortune that is his birthright. “The Blacklist” is currently in its fifth season.

Telemundo has announced that chefs Benito Molina, Claudia Sandoval, and Ennio Carota are the three judges of the first season of “MasterChef Latino.” The culinary competition show, hosted by Aracely Arambula, will premiere in 2018. On “MasterChef Latino,” the trio of cooking experts will have to choose one among a group of cooking amateurs to select a winner.