Peter Jackson
He sells “Lord of the Rings” studio for 1.4 billion euros
“Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson has bagged a billion dollar deal.
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Peter Jackson sold his “Lord of the Rings” forge Weta Digital for the equivalent of 1.4 billion euros. But only in part.
Once again, the New Zealand director Peter Jackson (60) can pick up a hefty check thanks to “The Lord of the Rings”. As reported by “BBC News” among others, he has sold parts of his special effects studio Weta Digital for the equivalent of around 1.4 billion euros. The effects smithy located in his home country helped to conjure up the fantasy world of Middle-earth in all three parts of his Tolkien film adaptation.
Weta Digital was also used for the blockbuster “Avatar”, the new edition of “Planet of the Apes” and the hit series “Game of Thrones”. The studio’s techniques “have given us infinite opportunities to bring worlds and creatures to life that previously only lived in our imaginations,” said co-founder and board member Jackson of the deal.
Pokémon instead of Gollum?
The US video game studio Unity, which has made a name for itself with mobile games such as “Pokémon Go” and “Call of Duty: Mobile”, was awarded the contract. With the purchase, one wants to prepare for the next evolutionary stage of the internet, the so-called metaverse, according to a statement.
However, the entire studio does not change hands for the considerable sum. Rather, the company will be divided into two parts. Unity takes over the technology department as Weta Digital. As WetaFX, an independent company for film effects is spun off, which is immediately intended to be Unity’s largest customer.