The Amazon Lord of the Rings television show looks like it may have at least one thing in common with Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy: according to a report from Geeks Worldwide, New Zealand is again being considered for the shooting location.
The three movies covering J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings were all filmed in New Zealand, and when the prequel trilogy of movies based on Tolkien’s The Hobbit were produced, they returned to the same locations. Fans have come to associate the lush green scenery of New Zealand with Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, enough that Lord of the Rings themed tours to the sites from the movies are still popular.
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In addition to providing beautiful sets and consistency with the iconic movies, a New Zealand filming location would put the production in proximity with Weta Workshop, the company which created the props and special effects for all six films. Weta’s designs were another important part of the visual signature of the Middle-Earth franchise, so fans will be hoping to see them return, but at the time there has been no confirmation of an agreement between Amazon and Weta.
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Director Peter Jackson is also based in New Zealand, but at this time, reports say that he will have limited involvement with the TV series, if any.
J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay have been signed on to develop the show, which is currently slated to premiere in 2021.