One of the primary stories surrounding theLord of the Ringsprequel show, since its early announcements, has been its budget.The Rings of Powerhas the largest budget a television series has ever seen, and that alone comes with enormous pressure to provide a fulfilling product, along with the expectations that Tolkien readers have for his adaptations to live up to. Given thatThe Wheel of Timewas canceled due to financial reasons, questions have begun swirling aroundThe Rings of Powerand whether it’s met the streaming service’s expectations.
The Rings Of Power’s Syndication Is Promising For Its Future
Amazon Has Plans For The Rings Of Power
Amazon renting out its original shows for additional revenue might seem like they’re trying to make the most of a bad situation, but in the article, Chris Ottinger, head of worldwide distribution for Amazon MGM Studios, spoke about the high asking price forThe Rings of Power. He states,“Season 1 of ‘The Rings of Power ’ was the biggest TV series premiere in the history of Prime Video, and Season Two was the most-watched returning season ever on Prime Videoat the time.”
The Rings of Power’ssyndication ensures that the TV show is profitable, in high demand, and part of the company’s plans for years to come.The Rings of Powerseason 3is already in development, so if the company is trying to market its seasons eighteen months after release, it seems likely they’re going to invest in keeping the show going at least a while longer. The show’s viewership doesn’t necessarily mean it’s making back the money they spent, but it’s still a premier title for them.
Amazon Has Previously Been Positive On The Rings Of Power’s Future
LOTR Is A Long-Term Investment For Amazon
This isn’t the first time reports aboutThe Rings of Powerhave expressed positivity from Amazon. Let’s remember that this isa title they invested a massive amount of resources into from the start, and it’s connected to one of the most recognizable media IPs of all time, with an enormously successful film franchise and one of the top-selling book series of all time. Essentially, it would be hard not to make a profit off of it. Back in October 2024, head ofAmazon MGM Studios Jennifer Salkesaid the following:
Obviously [The Rings of Power season 2 had] very different marketing levels and all of that [to Season 1]. But that being said, over 55 million people at this point have engaged since Season 2 launched. And if you look at the long-term trajectory, which is how this company looks at an asset like that,this is a long-term investment in that franchise. […] There’s well over 150 million viewers watching and engaging with the show.So I feel really good. I think we all do.
[Regarding if there will be any change to Amazon’s 50-episode commitment] I don’t think so. [That] commitment is never the thing that’s driving what we’re doing. We’ll continue to make the show as long as we see global customers loving it and watching it to the point where — it is a business. Obviously,we need a large amount of people showing up. And there are a large amount of people, so there’s no debate about whether or not the show will continue.
How Popular Is The Rings Of Power Compared To Wheel Of Time?
Rings Of Power Is The More Popular Title
Analyzing streaming service data is, as mentioned, very tricky. There are so many factors that aren’t exactly available to the public, and many of the recorded numbers aren’t precise.Parrot Analyticsconducteda study on the two shows, which claimed thatThe Rings of Poweronly narrowly beatThe Wheel of Timein revenue. That said, the extra yearThe Wheel of Timehad beforeRings of Power’srelease could be a factor, as theLord of the Ringsspin-off has outpaced it otherwise.
In terms of the two shows,The Wheel of TimeandThe Rings of Powerare likely around a similar level of popularity, which makes the former’s cancellation more curious. In terms of the franchises at large,The Lord of the Ringsis a far more recognizable brand, which comes with inherent value. This could explain Amazon prioritizing one over the other, as the Tolkien adaptation arguably has larger potential for spin-offs and other multimedia projects that could benefit fromThe Rings of Powerrunning until completion.
The Rings Of Power Deserves To See Through Its 5-Season Plan
Audiences Deserve To See The Second Age Play Out In Full
I understand that Tolkien fans have an understandably wide range of views onThe Rings of Power, but while I have my issues with the show, there’s a lot that I enjoyed about season 2. TheSecond Age of Middle-earthisn’t the most-explored era of Tolkien’s mythology, but it’s one of the most fascinating to me, and that alone makes me excited to see certain events play out. It would be a shame for it to end on a similar note toThe Wheel of Time, coming to a premature conclusion before the eventual downfall of Sauron.
Of course, I’d have loved to seeThe Wheel of Timeplay out in its entirety as well, but this is the situation we’re in, and I’m happy to still have one. No show deserves to get the axe likeThe Wheel of Timedid, but right now, fantasy shows carrying on and finding success are crucial for the genre. IfThe Rings of Powerwere to be canceled in a similar manner, epic fantasy would find itself in a rut very quickly, with studios unwilling to invest resources into similar projects.
