https://www.pcgamer.com/warframes-parent-company-is-working-on-a-new-lord-of-the-rings-online-game/

A new game based on JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth is in the works, but it's not coming from Shadow of War partners Monolith and Warner. Athlon Games, a recently-launched publishing division of Digital Extremes owner Leyou, announced today that it has signed a long-term deal with Middle-earth Enterprises to create a new game set in Tolkien's famous fantasy realm, "at a time long before the events of The Lord of the Rings." 

Middle-earth Enterprises is a division of the Saul Zaentz Company that holds exclusive worldwide rights to "certain elements" of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, including their titles, names of characters, places, objects, and events, and certain phrases and sayings. Simply put, if you want to make a Lord of the Rings game (or anything else), you need these guys to give it the thumbs up, as they did in, for instance, the fine print of Middle-earth: Shadow of War.