Critics of Embracer Group say that the holding company really lucked out when it managed to acquire all of Square Enix’s western studios (e.g., Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics) for only $300 million, but now it appears that the deal may be even more lucrative than anyone might have imagined.
According to an exclusive report from Fellowship of Fans, a Lord of the Rings fan site, Amazon has agreed to pay Embracer $600 million to lease the rights to the Tomb Raider franchise following the news from December about how Crystal Dynamics had entered into a development and publishing agreement with Amazon Games for its new, multi-platform Tomb Raider game, which is being built on Unreal Engine 5.
Recent reports can confirm that the Tomb Raider franchise is set to expand substantially under this deal with a new game, TV series, and movie in the works, all of which will be part of an interconnected universe, similar to Marvel Studios’ projects.
From a Fellowship of Fans report:
Embracer Group just sold (update: leased) their ‘Tomb Raider’ rights to Amazon for a deal that we can exclusively reveal as being approximately a 600 Million overall package making it Amazon’s second biggest commitment after purchasing the television rights for ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’. Therefore, this puts into perspective the cost and (updated) commitments that Embracer maybe looking for.
The main report pertains to how Warner Bros. is set to lose the film rights for The Lord of the Rings, with Middle-earth Enterprises seeking a new rights holder that will presumably have “deep pockets.” (Amazon or Netflix are speculated as being potential candidates.)
Exit talks have begun between Middle-earth Enterprises (MEE) and Warner Brothers for the movie/ film rights for the ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ franchises. MEE have requested for WB to let go of the rights and exit their deal by the end of 2023 so they can begin the search and sale for new rights holders for the LOTR franchise. However, the notice was only just sent in and initial contacts made and this negotiation could take the whole year. The company ‘ACF’ is handling the exit talks with WB on the behalf of the Embracer Group who acquired Middle-earth Enterprises, a division of The Saul Zaentz Company earlier last year.
Discussion (9 replies)
Join Discussion →Lets hope we stop getting Laura Croft that more resembles an underfed teenager who's never seen a gym and someone more dynamic.
Yes.
Alicia was ill suited for the role, but I think at least she tried. Unlike Natalie Portperson and her fake cgi arms.
Wow.
I knew games were bigger money these days than in the past, but if just a lease, with no development behind it is worth $600m, holy shit, is it bigger by a whole different scale than I realized.
Dynamism, huh?
Is that what the kids are calling it these days? :P
Or you know... this:
That's the kind of dynamism that I can get behind.
I'm not going to say she was the worst choice for the part but the real problem with that movie was how they neutered and destroyed the story from the first reboot game. They took absolutely everything interesting about the game and removed it leaving nothing left to work with.
That said, I don't have any real hope that Amazon will do any better. It wouldn't take much to make it better especially if they fix the other glaring problem with the reboot movie: make the movie for adults instead of tweens. The primary audience for Tomb Raider is adult and has been for a long time. It doesn't mean the content needs to be inaccessible to young adults or teens but the primary audience to shoot for must be adult.
I think despite not being the ideal candidate she was still the best part of the movie, which says something about the rest of the movie.
If it is produced by amazon you know that's exactly what you'll get. Not just made for tiktok zoomer tweens, but made by zoomers as well.