TV’s Big Fantasy Gamble: ‘Lord of the Rings,’ ‘House of the Dragon,’ and the Battle to Claim the Next Blockbuster Franchise
variety.comHouse of the Dragon,” the first of what executives dearly hope are many spinoff series from the most gargantuan hit in the network’s history, “Game of Thrones.” HBO certainly wasn’t the only network turning the mid-July gathering into a launching pad for critical new genre television.
Amazon Prime Video unveiled its monumentally expensive fantasy series “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” over several meticulously choreographed days at Comic-Con.
There was a surprise meet-and-greet between 21 members of the cast and J.R.R. Tolkien superfans; a regal private dinner with the actors, series creators J.D.
Payne and Patrick McKay, executives including Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke, and invited media; and a nearly two-hour panel in front of 6,500 attendees in Hall H that featured moderator Stephen Colbert (flown in for less than a day), giant wraparound screens, five exclusive clips, and a 25-piece orchestra and 16-person choir conducted by composer Bear McCreary.All of this work — and money and time — comes at a critical moment for both shows, which debut just weeks apart.
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