• themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    I think the studios and Peter Jackson are engaged in a protracted legal battle over the rights to the IP, and it’s complicated. But I bet that they have to keep making films to retain the rights, and Gollum is a LotR character that is not in the Similarion or other unpublished writings, and the character was a cultural phenomenon.

    There’s no reason to think Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis will make something as bad as the Gollum videogame.

    • Perfide@reddthat.com
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      8 months ago

      The original trilogy is so beloved because it’s an excellent adaptation of one of the greatest book series ever. This is not that. Good or bad, this will be outright fanfiction. No thanks.

      • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        I’m inclined to agree with you, except if it’s good, I’m happy to enjoy a well-produced bit of fanfiction. If it’s bad, I won’t bother and I will forget it exists entirely. It’s not even like an adaptation of something I love, because they’re filling in gaps between the written stories.

        Of course, there’s a worst case scenario, where they make a film people love, but fuck up the details of the greater story, and I’m the only person who seems to care that they have shat on the legacy. Like they somehow reveal that Gollum was the physical manifestation of Morgoth, and was subconsciously working against Sauron to prevent being overthrown by a lesser evil. That would upset me, but worse still would be if it’s a huge success and I have to hear people talking about it all the time, and see people wearing t-shirts with Gollum in black Valar robes, sitting on a throne made out of Sauron’s iconic helmet, wearing all the Rings of Power.

        Like if that became a cultural touch point, I’d hate it. But that’s really the worst case scenario.

        • Perfide@reddthat.com
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          8 months ago

          Oh yeah don’t get me wrong, as long as they don’t fuck with established events I’m not mad about this movie existing. It just doesn’t appeal to me at all. The only lotr movies I really want are ones based on the Silmarillion stories, and sadly I suspect we’ll have to wait another 20 years(or more, if the copyright considers Tolkiens son the author) for it to enter public domain before that happens.

          • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            Yes, but imagine how much better CG and practical effects will be in 20 years! Maybe they build a giant animatronic, fully articulated Ungoliant for the movie!