Amazon Studios’ The Lord of the Rings television series is leaving New Zealand.
Amazon Studios announced that the sweeping, big-budget fantasy series would be moving from New Zealand to the United Kingdom for Season 2, which pre-production on the series expected to begin in early 2022. While the series will be moving locations, post-production on Season 1, which recently wrapped principal photography, will continue in New Zealand until June 2022. The entirety of Season 1 was filmed in New Zealand, which is scheduled to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on Sept. 2, 2022.
According to Amazon, the change in location aligns with its desire to expand and invest in studio space in the UK, where many of Amazon Studios’ series and films are already being filmed. Season 1 of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings wrapped filming in August, which had been filming around Auckland, New Zealand, a few hundred miles north of Wellington, where Peter Jackson’s original film trilogy was produced.
“We want to thank 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,” said Vernon Sanders, VP and Co-Head of TV, Amazon Studios. “We are grateful to the New Zealand Film Commission, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Tourism New Zealand, Auckland Unlimited, and others for their tremendous collaboration that supported the New Zealand film sector and the local economy during the production of Season One.”
The series began filming in Feb. 2020, but paused for several months before resuming in September that same year. Amazon recently made an official announcement for Season 2 after committing $250 million for the franchise’s television rights, reportedly aiming for a five-season run.
Developed by J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay, The Lord of the Rings will premiere on Amazon Prime on Sept. 2, 2022.
Source: Amazon Studios
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