Embracer just bought Middle-earth Enterprises (rights to everything, not just games)

[ADL]

https://embracer.com/release/embrac...d-the-hobbit-literary-works-by-j-r-r-tolkien/

Embracer Group AB (”Embracer”), through its wholly owned subsidiary Freemode[1], has entered into an agreement to acquire Middle-earth Enterprises, a division of The Saul Zaentz Company, which owns a vast intellectual property catalogue and worldwide rights to motion pictures, video games, board games, merchandising, theme parks and stage productions relating to the iconic fantasy literary works The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as matching rights in other Middle-earth-related literary works authorized by the Tolkien Estate and HarperCollins, which have yet to be explored.

[1] Acquired through Embracer's subsidiary Embracer Freemode Iconic Holding Inc. and will be part of the operative group Embracer Freemode.

“I am truly excited to have The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, one of the world’s most epic fantasy franchises join the Embracer family, opening up more transmedia opportunities including synergies across our global group. I am thrilled to see what lies in the future for this IP with Freemode and Asmodee as a start within the group. Going forward, we also look forward to collaborating with both existing and new external licensees of our increasingly stronger IP portfolio,” says Lars Wingefors, Founder and Group CEO Embracer Group.

“We at the Zaentz Company have had the honor over the past half century of stewarding the Tolkien rights so that Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fans worldwide could enjoy award winning epic films, challenging video games, first rate theatre and merchandise of every variety. We could not be more thrilled that it is Embracer now taking up the responsibility and we are confident their group will take it to new heights and dimensions while maintaining homage to the spirit of these great literary works,“ says Marty Glick, COO of The Saul Zaentz Company.

 

[Dedicated_Dark]

How rich are the Embracer group! or are these franchises/whoever owns them really cheap to buy!

 

[ADL]

Variety article from a couple months ago.

Zaentz Co. has hired ACF Investment Bank to handle the sale process, which is unfolding this week as bankers make the rounds of the logical Hollywood buyers. The Tolkien properties are projected to fetch at least $2 billion, based on recent high valuations for top-tier IP and content producers.

The Zaentz Co. holdings encompass rights to exploit “LOTR” and “The Hobbit” properties in film, video games, merchandising, live events and theme parks. It also includes limited matching rights should the Tolkien estate decide to make movies or other content based on two compilations of Tolkien writings that were published after his death in 1973: “The Silmarillion” and “The Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-Earth.”

https://variety.com/2022/film/news/lord-of-the-rings-hobbit-tolkien-zaentz-rights-sale-1235176036/

 

[rusty_shackleford]

1. Where do they get all the money for this?
2. Those IPs are going to a much better home at least.
3. They've just inherited a massive headache of lawsuits, I don't envy them.

 

[Wunderbar]

Looks like Embracer is trying to branch out into movie/tv/media sphere. I doubt they are just going to stick to making small budgeted LotR games.

 

[tritosine2k]

or are these franchises/whoever owns them really cheap to buy!

Rather so, because production pipelines so stuffed and etc. despite claims of 3d whizz.

 

[Baron Dupek]

re-release all these old LoTR games already

 

[mediocrepoet]

Embracer Group isn't just in games, they're in a variety of areas and have some serious capital (apparently $1.7B).

https://embracer.com/about/our-strategy/
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/embracer-group
https://embracer.com/investors/the-share/

 

[Nifft Batuff]

Now finally we can have remakes/reboots of the LOTR movies to match the modern sensibilities.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

Going to send an email to Lars asking him to reinstate ICE's MERP license with a detailed essay on why it's some of the greatest non-Tolkien middle earth content ever created.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Going to send an email to Lars asking him to reinstate ICE's MERP license with a detailed essay on why it's some of the greatest non-Tolkien middle earth content ever created.

Seriously? lol with the Rolemaster critical failure table? That system was bananas. You try to be sneaky, oh no you tripped over an imaginary turtle! You pulled your groin! The enemy loses a turn laughing at you! etc.

 

[vortex]

I want a CRPG like Baldur's Gate only in LotR world. I believe Feargus talked about it they wanted to do it but didn't pan out.

 

[Wunderbar]

re-release all these old LoTR games already

Now finally we can have remakes/reboots of the LOTR movies to match the modern sensibilities.

they only bought rights to produce new content, not to re-release older games. All of those games made by EA's internal teams are now going to be stuck in a limbo.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

re-release all these old LoTR games already

Now finally we can have remakes/reboots of the LOTR movies to match the modern sensibilities.

they only bought rights to produce new content, not to re-release older games. All of those games made by EA's internal teams are now going to be stuck in a limbo.

As much of a limbo as before. They didn't simply acquire the rights, they own MEE.

 

[Wunderbar]

they own MEE.

how much did they pay to own you?

 

[rusty_shackleford]

they own MEE.

how much did they pay to own you?

I'm priceless.

 

[Abu Antar]

They bought several studios.

Tripwire, Limited Run Games, and a few more.

Edit: They are not "branching out" per se. They have both hands and feet in several types of different media.

About their money situatio: Their head honcho is a Swedish, billionaire. He's probably taken out a few loans, too.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

they own MEE.

how much did they pay to own you?

I'm priceless.

So basically for free.

 

[Nifft Batuff]

I would like to express my state of mind: Who cares?

 

[ERYFKRAD]

I would like to express my state of mind: Who cares?

There is a very slim chance that something worthwhile shall come of this.

 

[Thac0]

Wait a second. Piranha Bytes belongs to Embracer. There is a greater than zero chance we get Gothic in Middle Earth from this deal.

 

[Morgoth]

Inb4 Embracer buys EA.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Inb4 Embracer buys EA.

Someone better buy it and put it out of our misery anyway.

 

[Ryzer]

Wait a second. Piranha Bytes belongs to Embracer. There is a greater than zero chance we get Gothic in Middle Earth from this deal.

PB is not even capable of recreating Gothic anymore.

 

[toughasnails]

So what exactly are the implications here? Could they for example authorize "official' new Middle earth novels and short story anthologies by contemporary authors? It's something that some people were lamenting the impossibility of before.