Swedish online game firm Embracer Group has acquired Center-earth Enterprises, a division of The Saul Zaentz Firm, which owns the mental property catalogue and worldwide rights to The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The monetary phrases of the acquisition weren’t disclosed. However the deal means Embracer Group will choose up the movement image, online game, board sport, merchandising, theme parks and stage manufacturing rights referring to The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit franchises in addition to matching rights in different Center-earth-related literary works approved by the Tolkien Property and HarperCollins, which have but to be explored.
“I’m really excited to have The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, one of many world’s most epic fantasy franchises be part of the Embracer household, opening up extra transmedia alternatives together with synergies throughout our world group,” mentioned Lars Wingefors, Founder and Group CEO Embracer Group. “I’m thrilled to see what lies sooner or later for this IP with Freemode and Asmodee as a begin inside the group. Going ahead, we additionally sit up for collaborating with each current and new exterior licensees of our more and more stronger IP portfolio.”
As a part of the deal, Center-earth Enterprises will kind a part of the newly based operative group Embracer Freemode. The firm will proceed to function independently beneath the present Center-earth Enterprises management crew.
In a press release, Marty Glick, COO of The Saul Zaentz Firm, mentioned: “We on the Zaentz Firm have had the consideration over the previous half century of stewarding the Tolkien rights in order that Lord of the Rings and Hobbit followers worldwide might get pleasure from award successful epic movies, difficult video video games, first price theatre and merchandise of each selection. We couldn’t be extra thrilled that it’s Embracer now taking on the duty and we’re assured their group will take it to new heights and dimensions whereas sustaining homage to the spirit of those nice literary works.”
Embracer’s operative group Asmodee Group has a long-standing relationship with Tolkien IP, having revealed The Lord of the Rings board sport over 20 years in the past in addition to producing The Lord of the Rings: The Card Sport.
Key upcoming works set in Center-earth, during which Center-earth Enterprises has monetary pursuits, embody Amazon’s highly-anticipated sequence The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Energy, which debuts September 2, 2022, in addition to the Warner Bros. animated film The Lord of the Rings: The Warfare of the Rohirrim, set for launch in 2024, and the EA cell sport The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Center-earth.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as authorized advisor to Embracer Group. Arnold & Porter acted as authorized advisor and ACF Funding Financial institution acted as Funding Banker to The Saul Zaentz Firm.
