Technology giant Amazon’s TV and film business has announced plans to move the production of the Lord of the Rings series from New Zealand to the UK.
Gatekeepers News reports that Amazon said although the first season of multi-million dollar project, Lord of the Rings TV series, season two will be produced in London.
According to the tech giant, the pre-production on season two will begin early next year in the UK while season one post-production will continue in New Zealand.
The company added that the move was part of a plan to expand its production space and consolidate its footprint in the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes were also home to Oscar-winning Director Peter Jackson of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie trilogies.
Amazon Studios has spent $465m (£336.5m) on the first season of the show and with four more seasons expected to be made, it would become one of the most expensive series in television history.
The Vice President and Co-Head of TV at Amazon Studios, Vernon Sanders, while announcing the decision in a statement thanked “the people and the government of New Zealand for their hospitality and dedication and for providing The Lord of the Rings series with an incredible place to begin this epic journey.”
However, New Zealand’s Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash expressed his disappointment at the decision.
Nash said, “I am enormously proud of the New Zealand screen sector. The Amazon Studios’ decision in no way reflects the capabilities of our local film industry or the talents of the people who work in it.”
Season one of the show is scheduled to make its worldwide debut on Amazon’s Prime Video on September 22, 2022.
The move will be a major boost to the UK’s film and television production industry as it brings hundreds of millions of dollars into the country.
The UK Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden while welcoming the development, told BBC: “Thousands of high-quality jobs all across the UK will be created and supported by The Lord of the Rings television series so this is very exciting news.”
