The breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand have stood in for Middle-earth since Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies in the early 2000s. That’s also where Amazon filmed the first season of its LOTR series. It’s hard to imagine anything set in Middle-earth being filmed anywhere else. Alas, production on the Amazon show will shift to the U.K for its second season. Fans are concerned, but in the words of Tolkien himself: “Not all those who wander are lost.”
This news was first reported by Variety, which detailed how pre-production on the second season is expected to begin in the United Kingdom sometime in early 2022. It doesn’t actually specify where in the U.K. — whether it’s England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Amazon Studios spent $465 million on the first season of the show, with the government of New Zealand granting a tax rebate of about $114 million USD. Amazon Studios executive Vernon Sanders thanked New Zealand for once again standing in for Middle-earth project. I guess this is goodbye:
"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."
Elijah Wood is not happy with The Lord of the Rings move
Given that New Zealand has become synonymous with Middle-earth, it’s easy to understand why many fans have taken to social media to express their concerns about the decision. Even some celebrities have made their voices heard. Elijah Wood — Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s iconic movies — simply tweeted a facepalm emoji. It’s not much but it sure says a lot:
🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/rq6OES6zde
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) August 12, 2021
The move is hard to comprehend, but let’s take a look at the flip side. While we might not be getting the lush, beautiful scenery of New Zealand, the U.K. has its share of gorgeous landscapes. Countless fantasy movies and TV shows have taken advantage of what it has to offer. In recent years, Game of Thrones and Vikings were filmed in Northern Ireland. And then you’ve also got Scotland, which has hosted movies like Braveheart in the past. And the list goes on.
At least we can still enjoy the beauty of New Zealand when the first season of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings show premieres in September 2, 2022!
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