Even before it aired, the Prime Video series “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” would already hold a record that sets it apart from any other series ever made.
Even before its release, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has already broken a record! That of the most expensive series in the history of the small screen. Set thousands of years before The Lord of the Rings, it chronicles the creation of the artifacts known as the Rings of Power and their impact on Middle-earth.
According to information from the magazine Time (confirmed by the New Zealand government where the series was filmed), the first season of The Rings of Power cost Amazon $468 million. The series adapted from Lord of the Rings would therefore have, with eight episodes, an average expenditure of 58.5 million dollars per episode.
This seems considerable compared to the 20 million for each of the 10 episodes of season 1 of House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones prequel and direct competitor of the series by its theme (fantasy) and its scale (a worldwide recognized license) .
Prime Video Amazon spent lavishly
However, the sum of 468 million is to be put into perspective because it probably includes marketing costs and takes into account the construction of sets and accessories that will be reused in future seasons. The cost per episode is therefore probably less than 58.5 million but despite this, season 1 would still be the most expensive in the history of television.
Prime Video
According to variety, Amazon reportedly paid Lord of the Rings TV rights around $250 million and $13 million for a Super Bowl commercial to air a teaser of the series. Suffice to say that the bill begins to be salty. Especially since season 2 begins filming in October, which will again add expenses.
It is therefore essential for Amazon that the series be a success in order to make these pharaonic costs profitable. To find out if the hoped-for box will take place, meet tomorrow September 2 on Prime Video, from 3 a.m. for the most fans, to discover the first two episodes of the Rings of Power.
In the meantime, get to know the characters of the series:
See the slideshow
Slideshow
The Lord of the Rings: what awaits the characters in The Rings of Power on Prime Video
22 pictures