So… Netflix just bought Warner Bros. (Pending regulatory approval…) We all knew WB was up for sale, but Netflix coming out on top was a bit of a plot twist. [Press Release]
Like us, Ringers across the world are asking what this means for Middle-earth on film. Do the rights change? Does this affect ‘Hunt for Gollum?’ Will we be watching the Extended Editions on Netflix next week? We decided to put a little list together to help walk through the big questions fans are already asking and what we actually know.
Does Netflix now own Lord of the Rings?
Nope. That is unless they are buying Embracer… (Which they aren’t)
The core adaptation, merchandising, and related rights are with Embracer’s Middle‑earth Enterprises. WB has been the licensee making the films. Netflix is just buying the parent company that owns the studio which holds that license. Yes, that’s a big deal, but it doesn’t magically move the Tolkien IP to Netflix.
Think of it like Netflix now owns the workshop where Middle-earth movies get built, but not the blueprints.
Does this affect the movies Warner Bros/New Line already made?
Yes – but not in a scary way. The Peter Jackson trilogies, the Hobbit films, and the War of the Rohirrim anime all stay with the studio. Since Netflix is buying the studio, that whole library goes with it. So yes, Netflix now owns those. (Again, once the deal is complete)
Once contracts with other streaming services expire, Netflix will probably want LOTR on their own platform. It’s the Arkenstone, and Netflix likes shiny things.
Have you ever caught yourself muttering “confound it!” when unexpected guests appear at the door and you suddenly have to host them? Or perhaps a pesky relation is coming over for a meal and you know you need to impress them. Either way, join Kili in this new episode of Happy Hobbit to learn how to make a fancy hobbit dish sure to impress! Recipe below.
Fancy Hobbit Crème Brûlée
Ingredients
500 ml (2 cups) cream heavy cream / whipping cream
1 vanilla bean or use 1 tsp vanilla extract (I used extract)
100 g (½ cup) caster sugar
6 egg yolks
6 tbsp caster sugar for sugar topping
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 150°C/300°F.
If using, split the vanilla bean in half and add to a small saucepan with the cream.
Set the pan over medium heat.
Once the cream starts to steam and bubble around the edges, remove from the heat.
Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until light in color.
Add a ladle of the hot cream and whisk into the egg yolk mixture, or slowly trickle it in as I do in the video.
Stream in the hot cream whilst whisking continuously until everything is combined.
Pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a jug (this makes it easier to pour the custard into the ramekins).
Set your ramekins in a deep baking dish and then fill each with the custard. I use 150-200ml (5-6oz) ramekins.
Carefully pour boiling hot water into the baking dish until the water comes halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
To bake the custard, place the roasting dish in a preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes until the edges are set but the center still has a slight jiggle.
Remove from the oven and then allow to cool on a wire rack to room temperature. Transfer to the fridge and allow to set for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Once you’re ready to serve, sprinkle a tablespoon of caster sugar on top of each pot of custard and then, using a kitchen blowtorch, or dragon, caramelize the sugar.
This can also be done under the oven’s broiler/grill but there’s always the risk of the custard softening too much or the sugar burning
Allow the sugar to harden for a minute or two and then serve immediately.
Source: Simply Delicious Food
Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since joining TheOneRing.net in 2012! Learn hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 12+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. 🌻 Be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit on YouTube and check back here at TheOneRing.net so that you don’t miss out!
Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram,Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy.
Composer and sound engineer Jordan Rannells (who you might recall from his acclaimed The Lord of the Rings ambient audio soundscape project) has just released a new, immersive work designed to synchronise with Andy Serkis’s unabridged audiobook reading of The Silmarillion.
The project, called The Soundscape of Eä, follows The Silmarillion’s full journey from the Music of the Ainur and the formation of the world, through the wars of Beleriand, and more.
Rannels says that the new soundscape is timed to exactly match Serkis’s audiobook reading, and combines foley audio, original music, ambient nature recordings, and carefully timed sound effects, all engineered in Dolby Atmos to deliver a 3D immersive audio journey through J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth.
“This is not just a bit of added music: it changes how we can experience these stories,” he says. “We get to hear the song of the Ainur. The hissing and darkness of Ungoliant, and the might of Ancalagon in the War of Wrath.”
Get 25% off any of Jordan Rannell’s soundscapes with TORn
Until January 6, TORn readers can get 25% off not only The Soundscape of Eä, but any of Rannell’s soundscapes over on his website. Just use the special code TORN25 at checkout.
You can also listen to a few samples from The Soundscape of Eä in the Youtube clip below:
The release of The Soundscape of Eä also means listeners are now able to sync an immersive audioscape to Harper Collins’ audiobooks of the three key works of Tolkien’s legendarium: The Silmarillion, The Hobbit (An Unexpected Soundscape), and The Lord of the Rings (A Long-Expected Soundscape). Handily, if this appeals to you, Rannells has bundled them all together in The Legendarium Collection.
Not every hobbit delights in frights! While All Hallows Eve may bring to mind ghosts, goblins, and things that go bump in the night, some of us prefer the gentler comforts of hearth and home. In the latest Happy Hobbit episode, Kili (Kellie) shares a simple yet indulgent recipe for hot chocolate — the perfect treat for hobbits (and humans alike) who’d rather sip something warm and comforting than seek out spooks. So if you’d rather spend this All Hallows’ Eve curled up in your hobbit-hole with a good book and a steaming mug, this episode is for you. Join Kellie as she whisks up a cup of chocolatey cheer, proving once again that sometimes the simplest comforts are the most magical.
🍂 Check out past Halloween Specials by clicking here. 🎃
Happy Hobbit has brought Middle-earth to its viewers’ daily lives since joining TheOneRing.net in 2012! Learn hobbity recipes, crafts, and more by watching new episodes and/or perusing the 12+ years worth of videos on their YouTube channel. 🌻 Be sure you are subscribed to Happy Hobbit on YouTube and check back here at TheOneRing.net so that you don’t miss out!
Get even more slow-living hobbit content by following Happy Hobbit on Instagram,Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok! If watching the show has left you with an appetite for more, know that Kili (Kellie) has a podcast where Tolkien is often mentioned called Forests, Folklore & Fantasy.
We’ve heard a rumour – whispers on the wind… And now we’re excited that our good friends at Syzygy Forge have given us the thumbs up to share this news with you: they are making collectibles for Tolkien fans!
Thus far, the folks at Syzygy Forge have been known in Middle-earth fandom for their whiskey – their Green Dragon wheated whiskey comes in a beautiful bottle (seen above). As licensees of Middle-earth Enterprises, however, they’ve just today announced that they have been given the green light to make other high end collectibles.
What these treasures will be remains to be seen; their teaser trailer is giving very little away. Here’s what their press release tells us:
Syzygy Forge Announces Licensing Partnership with Middle-earth EnterprisesTM to Craft High-End Collectible
Knoxville, October 30th, 2025
Syzygy Forge is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Middle-earth Enterprises, the holders of worldwide rights to The HobbitTM and The Lord of the RingsTM literary works by J.R.R. Tolkien. Known for creating high-quality, handcrafted collectibles, Syzygy Forge will bring to life an exclusive line of pieces inspired by Tolkien’s timeless tales.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone for fans and collectors, uniting Syzygy Forge’s craftsmanship with the timeless world of Middle-earth. The collection will feature limited-edition statues of iconic characters and faithful reproductions of legendary swords, shields, and armor. Each piece will be crafted with extraordinary attention to detail.
In addition to their core collection, Syzygy will collaborate with acclaimed Tolkien artist John Howe on a dedicated line of collectibles based exclusively on his original illustrations. This series will celebrate Howe’s influential visual legacy, offering collectors an unprecedented opportunity to own sculptural interpretations drawn directly from his vision of Middle-earth.
“Bringing Tolkien’s universe to life in a tangible, meaningful way is both an honor and a responsibility we embrace with great passion,” said Jordan Costner, Founder & Creative Director at Syzygy Forge. “These collectibles will be more than just display pieces, they will be heirlooms forged with the same reverence that Tolkien poured into his work.”
The first wave of releases, slated to be revealed in 2026, will be officially licensed and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. Collectors can sign up for early access and exclusive reveals at www.syzygyforge.com.
About Syzygy Forge
Syzygy Forge specializes in high-end collectibles inspired by literature, mythology, and fantasy. Known for blending traditional techniques with modern innovation, their work celebrates the stories that shape imaginations around the world.
About Middle-earth Enterprises
Middle-earth Enterprises, a division of the Embracer Group, holds the exclusive worldwide licensing rights to J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary works The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. With a legacy spanning decades, the company has brought Tolkien’s world to life across film, stage, video games, collectibles, and consumer products through partnerships with leading studios and creative teams, including New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Discovery. Today, Middle-earth Enterprises continues to steward and expand these iconic stories for fans around the globe.
