Amazon ‘Lord of the Rings’ Series Moves Production From New Zealand to U.K. for Season 2

Amazon’s upcoming “Lord of the Rings” series has moved the production from New Zealand to the U.K for Season 2.

As being reported, the Filming for the first season of the show was completed on August 2. 

However, Season 1 post-production will continue in New Zealand through June 2022, while the pre-production on Season 2 will start concurrently in the U.K. after the first of the year.

“As we look to relocate the production to the U.K., we do not intend to actively pursue the Season One MoU five percent financial uplift with the New Zealand government or preserve the terms around that agreement, however, we respectfully defer to our partners and will remain in close consultation with them around next steps,” said Albert Cheng, COO, and co-head of TV for Amazon Studios.

After losing Amazon’s TV mega-series, questions are being asked in New Zealand about policy, subsidies, and tourism.

“It’s a shame and I feel for everyone who has put their hearts into this production. Season two was expected to begin later in 2022, so our role now is to work hard to keep the Kiwi screen sector employed,” said David Strong, CEO of the New Zealand Film Commission.

He added that the series’ departure “opens the door wider to others to come in” and that the NZFC will continue to work closely with the government on assisting these productions to shoot in the country.

Season 1 of Amazon’s original Lord of the Rings series will be arriving on the streaming site on September 2, 2022, with one episode weekly later on.