Amazon Studios has revealed that the new Lord of the Rings television series’ production would move from New Zealand to the UK.
The prequel show, whose title has not yet been confirmed, takes place thousands of years before the events described in JRR Tolkien’s famous fantasy books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Amazon bought the television rights to the work for $250 million in November 2017, for a five-season production commitment worth at least $1 billion.
So far, Amazon Studios has spent $465 million on the show’s first season.
It is expected to become the most expensive TV series ever made.
The technology giant’s film and TV arm said they had changed locations following a plan to expand their production space and consolidate their footprint in the UK.
It also said the first season would finish filming in New Zealand and hit Amazon Prime in September 2022.
Production for the Lord of the Rings series would move to the UK, Amazon stated. They expect to make four more seasons.
New Zealand’s economic development minister, Stuart Nash, said the government was disappointed by the study’s decision.
New Zealand officials approved additional subsidies to Amazon Studios for the show’s production in April.
Amazon had received a 20% rebate on its expenses for filming the series in New Zealand. Later, the government added 5% more.
Back then, Nash said the Amazon deal created local jobs.
Besides generating work for local businesses, it would “enable a new wave of international tourism branding and promotion for this country,” Nash added.
Speaking about Amazon’s decision to move production from New Zealand, the minister stated the film industry in the country was very competitive and mobile, adding that they did not regret giving the show their “best shot with government support.”
Vernon Sanders, vice president and co-head ofTV at Amazon Studios, thanked New Zealand’s government and people for their hospitality and for “providing The Lord of the Rings series with an incredible place to begin this epic journey.”
The country was also home to Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie trilogies.
Meanwhile, UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden said the government welcomed Amazon Studios’ decision, saying the series’ production would create thousands of high-quality jobs in the UK.
“This is very exciting news,” he added.
