Amazon Studios confirmed that the production of the new lord of the Rings television series will move to the UK from New Zealand.
UK cultural secretary Oliver Dowden welcomed the decision and said, “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.”
It’s a great decision for New Zealand’s entertainment industry where the award-winning movies were also filmed and presented.
WHY THE LOCATION HAS BEEN A SHIFT?
Amazon Studios, the film, and TV arm of the technology giant have already spent a great amount of money on the first season of the show.
The shift is said to be part of a plan to expand its production and consolidate its footprint in the UK industry.
The first season of the show will be finished filming in New Zealand and will be shown on Amazon Prime in September 2022.
Commenting on the decision to move production from New Zealand, Mr. Nash said the country’s film industry was “incredibly competitive and highly mobile”.
“We have no regrets about giving this production our best shot with government support,” he said.
Amazon said it would not “actively pursue” the additional 5% subsidy it had been granted.
Vernon Sanders, vice president and co-head of the TV at Amazon Studios 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.”
IMPACT OF THE FILM ON NEW ZEALAND
The popularity of the film will help to promote New Zealand’s tourist industry. New Zealand with its incredible landscapes attracts tourists from all over the world. According to different sources between 2001 and 2006, annual tourists to the country rose by 40% from 1.7 million to 2.4 million.
However, like other industries, the tourism industry has impacted and had a major setback for travelers as well.
However, people believe that the original Lord of the Rings book has not been written with New Zealand in mind. Reports say that the cast will live in New Zealand for around two years because of border restrictions and quarantine rules.
The producer in such a situation will also be able to use other locations in Europe. Overall, it will have a greater impact on the New Zealand industry.
