Here’s a crazy bit of movie news that is going to strike a nerve with a lot of Lord of the Rings fans. New Line Cinema and Warner Bros Pictures are partnering up Embracer Group AB’s Middle-Earth Enterprises with a new multi-year deal to develop a series of new The Lord of the Rings movies!? What!? Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav shared this huge bit of news during the company’s call to discuss its Q4 2022 earnings. Zaslav has already mentioned in the past that they were looking to focus on developing more big franchises for the big screen. They will now focus on the story of Middle Earth! It’s been 20 years since New Line released Peter Jackson’s epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which earned 17 Oscars. Jackson later directed The Hobbit trilogy, and the six total films grossed nearly $6 billion at box office worldwide.Lee Guinchard, CEO of Embracer Group’s operative group Freemode, said in a statement: “Following our recent acquisition of Middle-earth Enterprises, we’re thrilled to embark on this new collaborative journey with New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures, bringing the incomparable world of J.R.R. Tolkien back to the big screen in new and exciting ways. We understand how cherished these works are, and working together with our partners at New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures, we plan to honor the past, look to the future, and adhere to the strongest level of quality and production values.”Warner Bros Pictures Group co-chairs and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy added: “Twenty years ago, New Line took an unprecedented leap of faith to realize the incredible stories, characters and world of The Lord of the Rings on the big screen. The result was a landmark series of films that have been embraced by generations of fans. But for all the scope and detail lovingly packed into the two trilogies, the vast, complex and dazzling universe dreamed up by J.R.R. Tolkien remains largely unexplored on film.  The opportunity to invite fans deeper into the cinematic world of Middle-earth is an honor, and we are excited to partner with Middle-earth Enterprises and Embracer on this adventure.”New Line and Warner Bros Animation are currently in production on the anime film, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, the story of which is set 183 years before the events in The Lord of the Rings. The movie, which tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan, is set to open theatrically on April 12, 2024.I’m fine with building on the Middle Earth world and stories and expanding on Jackson’s work, but as long as they aren’t remaking them, that’s cool! As long as they are expanding the franchise, that’s something I can get exacted about.Middle-earth Enterprises owns exclusive worldwide motion picture, games, merchandising, stage and other rights in certain Tolkien literary works including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.