The new LORD OF THE RINGS anime movie spinoff WB/NL’s making is a perfect example of why film libraries are now so valuable.
MGM TV/CBS Studios’ series CLARICE is another case in point, based on Jodie Foster’s character in 1992’s Oscar-winning best picture THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (pictured). CLARICE’s second season moves from CBS-TV to Paramount+ were just derailed by unexpected deal-making problems that could kill the show.
Both projects show how film libraries are now a source of IP that can generate new movies or TV material. The roots for this are in WB’s 1955 deal with ABC-TV for the weekly series WARNER BROS. PRESENTS. Each episode was devoted to spinoff content from one of 3 WB hit films — the 1942 drama KINGS ROW, the 1942 classic romantic drama CASABLANCA & the 1947 western CHEYENNE.
Jack Warner and his new television division recognized that there was value in old movies beyond being able to remake or sell them to TV. By spring-boarding off past hits to create new material for the rapidly growing television medium, WB established a new way of looking at film libraries that are now driving mega-merger deals like Amazon & MGM.