MORDOR MOVES. Amazon Studios drops New Zealand and moves its expensive Lord of the Rings drama series to the UK after finishing the first season with big tax breaks.

by Thinus Ferreira

In a shocking announcement, Amazon Studios says it's moving Mordor: The as-yet-untitled Lord of the Rings fantasy drama series is exiting production in New Zealand after its first season following millions saved after tax breaks and relocating to the United Kingdom.

The world's most expensive TV series to date - $465 million alone just to film the first season - has already been renewed for a second season even before the debut of the first episode that will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on Friday 2 September 2022 in 240 territories around the world.

While post-production work is ongoing and will continue in New Zealand until June 2022, sets will now be shipped to the UK along with the cast and a new UK-based crew assembled for filming the next season. The series will have to find several big new sound stages for the fantasy series' expansive sets.

Amazon Studios says that pre-production on the second season will begin in early-2022.

New Zealand is where Peter Jackson filmed the Lord of the Rings films and The Hobbit film series with the New Zealand backdrop that originally influenced author J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy universe that he created.

Amazon Studios and the Lord of the Rings series production got a whopping 20% tax break from New Zealand of $114 million to start filming the series in Auckland, but the show will now forfeit many millions more in another 5% tax break for upping and leaving.

"The shift from New Zealand to the UK aligns with the studio's strategy of expanding its production footprint and investing in studio space across the UK, with many of Amazon Studios' tentpole series and films already calling the U.K. home," Amazon Studios said in a statement released on Thursday night.

"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, vice president 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."

Albert Cheng, COO & co-head of TV, Amazon Studios, says "As we look to relocate the production to the United Kingdom, we do not intend to actively pursue the season one MoU 5% 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".

Filming on the first season of the Lord of the Rings series wrapped on Monday 2 August in Auckland.

According to Amazon Prime Video, the Lord of the Rings series takes place during the so-called Second Age of J.R.R. Tolkien's book series, placing it a thousand years before the events of the Third Age in the Lord of the Rings books and The Hobbit which were turned into films.

Since several of the fantasy creatures within his fantasy universe have very long lifespans, the series will follow an ensemble of characters that will include new faces but some who are also "familiar" and likely younger than what they were in the films. 

While there is peace in the land and mankind lives in on Númenor, "the kingdom of Men", that has been established on an island brought up out of the sea by the Valar in the early Second Age, the multi-season series filmed in New Zealand will build towards the "long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-Earth".

Previously Amazon Studios said that the series "will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien's pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness" - a clear allusion that viewers might get to experience the origin story of the Dark Lord Sauron. 

J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay are the showrunners on the series that is produced by Amazon Studios in cooperation with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins, and New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment.

The ensemble cast of the Lord of the Rings series includes Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Maxim Baldry, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Trystan Gravelle, Sir Lenny Henry, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, Leon Wadham, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman and Sara Zwangobani.

ALSO READ: FIRST LOOK. Lord of the Rings drama series unveils first image, fantasy series will start on Amazon Prime Video on 2 September 2022.

ALSO READ: My precious! Amazon’s Lord of the Rings TV series will be the world’s most expensive ever at over R6.68 billion - for just the first season.

ALSO READ: Amazon Studios' Lord of the Rings fantasy drama series will be set during the Second Age and include the island of Númenor.

ALSO READ: Yes my precious, new Lord of the Rings map starts to provide tantalising clues to not just where - but when - Amazon Prime Video's fantasy drama series will be set. 

Amazon Studios reveals the cast for its New Zealand set The Lord of the Rings series.

by Thinus Ferreira

Amazon Studios has announced the multi-generational, and global cast for its still-to-be-named The Lord of the Rings drama series that will be on the Amazon Prime Video streaming service.

Production on the first season of 8 episodes, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novels, will start in February, with filming of the Amazon Original that will take place in New Zealand where the series of movies were also made. The series has already been renewed for a second season.

In a press statement Amazon Studios says "the first group of series regulars" include Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Budge, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, and Daniel Weyman.

The showrunners and executive producers of the series are J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay with J.A. Bayona who will be directing the first 2 episodes and who will serve as executive producer, alongside his partner Belén Atienza; with executive producers Lindsey Weber, Bruce Richmond, Gene Kelly, Sharon Tal Yguado, Gennifer Hutchison, Jason Cahill and Justin Doble.

"After undertaking an extensive global search, we are delighted finally to reveal the first group of brilliant performers who will take part in Amazon's The Lord of the Rings series," say J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay in the press release.

"These exceptionally talented women and men are more than just our actors: they are the newest members of an ever-expanding creative family that is now working tirelessly to bring Middle-earth to life anew for fans and audiences worldwide."

The series will be set during The Second Age of Middle-earth and explore new storylines preceding J.R.R's "The Fellowship of the Ring."

In March 2019 Amazon revealed a Middle-Earth map that contains the later-sunk "lost island" of Númenor, which indicates that the island and its inhabitants will very likely feature in the TV series.

In the Tolkien mythology, the Second Age was the time period when the Rings of Power - including Sauron's One Ring who himself was still human - came into existence.

In late-2019 a global casting call went out looking for people as extras who are extremely short, extremely tall, missing teeth or are toothless, wrinkled, very hairy, have an "androgynous look" or are stocky, mean-looking bikers.

Amazon Studios announces the creative production team who will lead its Lord of the Rings prequel drama series.

Amazon Studios on Saturday announced the showrunners, executive producers, J.R.R. Tolkien scholar, costume designer, special effects supervisor and others who will form part of the creative team behind its big-budget Lord of the Rings prequel drama series for Amazon Prime Video that will start production in 2020.

On Saturday Jennifer Salke, Amazon Studios head, announced that Amazon has started a global casting search for the various character roles.

The expensive, as-yet-untitled 5 seasons series will be set during the Second Age and will include the island and era of Númenor. In the Tolkien mythology, the Second Age was the time period when the Rings of Power - including Sauron's One Ring who himself was still human - came into existence.

"As our journey into Middle-Earth begins, we are in excellent hands with J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay at the helm, with this incredible team of talent that they’ve assembled," said Jennifer Salke.

"The depth and breadth of the experience of this writing and production team is truly awesome, with a real respect for and knowledge of Tolkien lore. We're so happy to have them on board and to see this exciting series start to come to life."

Lord of the Rings will be produced by Amazon Studios, in co-operation with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins and New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment and is rumoured to start around 2021. The cost will come in at $1 billion for at least 5 seasons.

The series will be overseen by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay as showrunners and executive producers with J.A. Bayona who will direct the first two episodes. J.A. Bayona and producing partner Belén Atienza will also be executive producers.

"This team is our Fellowship - assembled from around the world, all walking the road together to try and accomplish something far greater than any of us could on our own," said J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay in a statement.

"We feel humbled and extremely lucky to be surrounded by such inspiring and talented women and men."

Lindsey Weber, Bruce Richmond, Gene Kelly and Amazon's former head of genre Sharon Tal Yguado, will all be executive producers.

Gennifer Hutchison, Jason Cahill and Justin Doble will be writer/executive producers.

Bryan Cogman and Stephany Folsom will be consulting producers, with Ron Ames as producer. Helen Shang is a writer/co-producer, and Glenise Mullins is writing consultant. Kate Hawley is constume designer, and Rick Heinrichs will serve as production designer.

Jason Smith is visual effects supervisor, with Tom Shippey as Tolkien scholar. The illustrator/concept artist is John Howe.

Amazon Studios grabs filmmaker J.A. Bayona to direct the first 2 episodes of its Lord of the Rings prequel TV series.

Amazon Studios has acquired the filmmaker Juan Antonio (J.A.) Bayona to direct the first two episodes of its upcoming as-yet-untitled The Lord of the Rings TV series based on JRR Tolkien's fantasy novel series.

J.A. Bayona will also serve as an executive producer, alongside his partner Belén Atienza.

Amazon Studios' Lord of the Rings fantasy drama series will be set during the Second Age and include the island of Númenor.

"JRR Tolkien created one of the most extraordinary and inspiring stories of all time, and as a lifelong fan it is an honour and a joy to join this amazing team," said J.A. Bayona in a statement released by Amazon Studios.

"I can’t wait to take audiences around the world back to Middle-earth and have them discover the wonders of the Second Age, with a never-before-seen story."

Jennifer Salke, the head of Amazon Studios, said "The scope and breadth of J.A.'s world-building is exactly the right fit for our ambitions for The Lord of the Rings".

"He’s a passionate and collaborative director who has brought new stories to life with his multitalented producing partner, Belén. We are all excited for them to join our writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, and we can’t think of a better way to begin this journey to Middle-earth."

"We are thrilled to have J.A. and Belen joining the fellowship as we continue to develop this epic series," said writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. "We have been great admirers of J.A.'s work for years, and know that his epic, the cinematic, and deeply heartfelt aesthetic is the perfect sensibility to bring Middle-earth to life anew."