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THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Set Visit Preview and 4 Awesome New Posters!THE HOBBIT to Stay in New Zealand
by Matt Goldberg Posted:October 27th, 2010 at 8:48 am
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Due to an ugly labor dispute, it was looking like Peter Jackson’s two-part adaptation of The Hobbit was going to leave New Zealand That no longer appears to be the case as New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced that The Hobbit (and its $670 million budget) would be staying in his country. You know a movie is a big deal to a country when they get the prime minister to hold on a press conference on it. The New Zealand government is even introducing legislation “to clarify the distinction between independent contractors and employees as it relates to the film industry only.” That’s how important these films are to the country.
Hit the jump for more concessions the government made in order to keep Middle-Earth in New Zealand, which is where The Lord of the Rings trilogy was famously shot. Surprisingly, changing the name of the country to “Middle-Earth” wasn’t one of them. The Hobbit is set for release in 3D in December 2012 and December 2013. The films star Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Rob Kazinsky, Aidan Turner, Graham McTavish, John Callen, and Stephen Hunter.
According to the New Zealand Herald, they’re even changing the tax rebates for Warner Bros., which will mean up to an extra US$7.5m per movie for the studio, subject to the success of the movies. And if that’s not all, the government will offset US $10 million of Warner Bros’ marketing costs as part of the strategic partnership. That’s right: New Zealand taxpayers are going to help pay to market The Hobbit. However, the country will get to host one of the world premieres for the movies, so that’s nice.
I couldn’t agree with Prime Minister Key more when he says, “It’s good to have the uncertainty over, and to have everyone now full steam ahead on this project.” Filming is slated to begin in February 2011.
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Luckily The Hobbit can be filmed in NZ which LOTR was filmed, it wouldn’t be called Middle Earth if it was to be filmed elsewhere…Plus, Jackson directing, I bet it’ll be awesome as LOTR….n may be the 2nd or 1st highest grossing film of all time….:))
It beter kick some blue peoples butt at the box office
Hopefully they stop by Britain to film some Chris Lee scenes.
Lee should be replaced cos he’s too old for the role, so do McKellen…
“You know a movie is a big deal to a country when they get the prime minister to hold on a press conference on it.”
He was probably attracted to the project after watching Cars on a flight to America.
Latest article… http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10683583
You have NO idea of how much this saga has effected this country. Front page every day for 2 weeks, lead item on the evening news for the same period. Your comment about re-naming NZ as Middle Earth isn’t as far fetched as you might think!
I too am relieved to hear that The Hobbit will be filmed in NZ – where it should be. Very anxious to hear more about this film once production gets going, if for no other reason than to know that it is actually happening. These films will be at the top of most everyone’s “must see” lists along with Avengers, Dark Knight Rises and Star Trek 2.
This is great news. I hope Peter has his heart in it. It seems like he does. He seemed very passionate during the dispute. Maybe fighting this hard for it will help him stay excited about this big commitment that he was hoping to sidestep. I always thought a fresh director would help give the Hobbit movie the same type of tone separation from the LOTR that there is between the books. He was deeply involved in the Hobbit process already, so it should be alright.
Can’t wait for some more LOTR/Hobbit screening parties at our place again!
yayayaya thank god
YES!!!!