According to Deadline, Patrick McKay (Escape, Flash Gordon) and JD Payne (Escape, Flash Gordon), the masterminds behind The Rings of Power series, have inked a fresh, exclusive partnership with Amazon MGM Studios, solidifying their commitment to the streaming giant, according to Deadline. This collaboration comes hand in hand with the birth of their own production company, 10:40 PM Productions.
Deadline reports this new deal, spanning three years, grants Amazon MGM Studios sole rights to the television adaptations crafted by the duo. While the financial details remain undisclosed, the significance of this agreement is undeniable.
“We began this remarkable journey with JD and Patrick more than five and a half years ago and have never looked back,” said Vernon Sanders (Fleabag, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), head of television, Amazon MGM Studios via Deadline. “We continue to be amazed by the scope and scale of their vision and the enormous global success achieved by The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in its record-breaking first season. We can’t wait for Prime Video customers to experience the epic adventure and high-stakes drama that JD and Patrick are continuing to build throughout season two and beyond. Naturally, the studio is thrilled to extend our overall deal with these brilliant creative minds as they continue to deliver on their passion for great storytelling.”
McKay and Payne’s creative prowess was on full display in the debut season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, earning them critical acclaim and Emmy nominations. As the most-watched Amazon Original globally, the series ascended to the top spot on the Nielsen streaming chart upon its fall 2022 premiere, maintaining a formidable presence in the top four throughout its initial airing.
Payne and McKay took the helm as showrunners for the highly anticipated second season of The Rings of Power, slated for release later this year. Although the writing for season three has yet to commence, the creative duo has already begun to outline the initial story arc.
Anticipations are high that as production gears up for season three, The Rings of Power will transition from its current base at Bray Studios to a new facility at Shepperton Studios, located nearby in the UK.
All eight episodes of season one of Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power are currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.