Plans to film $1 billion Lord of the Rings television series in New Zealand under threat

[Deleted member 16516]

New news, new thread.

"The Government has held a crisis meeting with Amazon TV executives as the network threatens to pull plans to film the Lord of the Rings series in New Zealand.

At US$1 billion (NZ$1.49 billion), it is touted as the most expensive television series in history – and accordingly, the most lucrative for the country where it is filmed.

Earlier this year, production company boss Jennifer Salke confirmed New Zealand was being considered as the location – but now, that's in jeopardy."


https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainme...he-rings-television-series-in-nz-under-threat


If not New Zealand, then there are a plethora of Middle-earth-esque locations throughout Europe.

 

[Wrexis]

Ireland here, we'll take it.

 

[Deleted member 7051]

Oh don't worry, this is just a play to get more incentives and tax breaks.

 

[johnnydork]

A sad day for content

 

[Odesu]

Remember when New Zealand literally changed their employment laws to appease Warner and make it easier for them to fuck over their employees?



Now imagine what they'd do for Amazon. The possibilities are endless!

 

[Deleted member 16516]

Ireland here, we'll take it.

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Would be perfect along with some locations in the Scottish Highlands.

 

[Senator Toadstool]

So like warner, amazon wants the ability to get around decent labor laws? (assuming it's like the hobbit stuff mentioned in the article)

 

[Thordawgg]

NZ is synonymous with Lord of the Rings, I want it to be there but I hope it's not at the expense of workers rights.

 

[Danstanster]

Television is now as economically damaging as hosting the Olympics

 

[Corran Horn]

Remember when New Zealand literally changed their employment laws to appease Warner and make it easier for them to fuck over their employees?



Now imagine what they'd do for Amazon. The possibilities are endless!

Click to shrink...

First thing I thought of.

 

[Kyougar]

"We totally will invest the 1 Billion dollars in your country, NZ, LOTR IS New Zealand!"
"You know, on second thoughts, that's a MAYBE. How about some goodies for us."

 

[boris_feinbrand]

And they will cave to Amazon's demands like the spineless corporate lackeys that they are.

 

[ZackieChan]

Remember when New Zealand literally changed their employment laws to appease Warner and make it easier for them to fuck over their employees?



Now imagine what they'd do for Amazon. The possibilities are endless!

Click to shrink...

I watched it before, but can you refresh me on how the employees were fucked over?

 

[Window]

Television is now as economically damaging as hosting the Olympics

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Is it? How come? First time I'm hearing of this.

 

[FaceHugger]

I'm tired of already wealthy corporations that pay hardly any taxes (if any at all) bickering over every last nickel they can get out of countries.

 

[SArcher]

It's sad that the Middle Earth franchise is now a tool for big corporations to basically threaten the workers in New Zealand.

 

[Danstanster]

Is it? How come? First time I'm hearing of this.

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Hyperbole, meant as humor. Crazy to think 1.5 billion dollars in your economy for an entire section of your countries film service industry could be up in the air. I guess more comparable to a city who loses in the bid for the olympics .

 

[Olaf]

We will always have the Trilogy.

 

[Deleted member 48205]

just don't make this pleaseeeeeee

 

[Ether_Snake]

Oh don't worry, this is just a play to get more incentives and tax breaks.

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New Zealand's government is under no obligation to agree to a deal that isn't in their favor, and Amazon is under no obligation to film there.

 

[Nooblet]

Come to Scotland, it looks very much like New Zealand.

 

[Protome]

Come to Scotland, it looks very much like New Zealand.

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Fuck that. Our economy is fucked enough without bending over backwards for Amazon.

 

[FaceHugger]

Fuck that. Our economy is fucked enough without bending over backwards for Amazon.

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Plus with Brexit looming, I am sure corporations aren't exactly chomping at the bit to strike up new long term deals in the UK.

 

[Protome]

Plus with Brexit looming, I am sure corporations aren't exactly chomping at the bit to strike up new long term deals in the UK.

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Yeah definitely. They know they'll get a better deal when the Tories turn the country into a tax haven.

 

[AniHawk]

oh just fuck off amazon and pay people what they're worth.

 

[Deleted member 5666]

Seeing now the show is in continuity with the 6 PJ movies I can see why they want to do it in New Zealand, but you can find places that look similar enough.

 

[julia crawford]

Fuck of to Jupiter Amazon, no one wants you.

 

[Danstanster]

Fuck of to Jupiter Amazon, no one wants you.

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Fuck off to Amazon, Jupiter, no one wants you.

 

[Deleted member 7051]

New Zealand's government is under no obligation to agree to a deal that isn't in their favor, and Amazon is under no obligation to film there.

Click to shrink...

Doesn't really mean anything. New Zealand has a vested interest in getting the show filmed there because it would boost spending and create a significant number of jobs that would last for several years. A project like this would funnel quite a bit of money into the economy.

Which just means Amazon can play hard to get until they're given better incentives. Amazon obviously wants to film the series in New Zealand for set consistency and reusing locations, but that isn't going to stop them haggling for a better deal.

 

[Cyprinodon Martius]

just don't make this pleaseeeeeee

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What's the worst that can happen? If it ends up being bad you can just ignore it, if it's good you can enjoy it.

 

[Deleted member 5666]

just don't make this pleaseeeeeee

Click to shrink...

Deal is done. They have committed to spend the money on it. No going back now. We are getting this young Aragorn series.

 

[Sweeney Swift]

The LOTR trilogy was a fluke and the rest of the series is a curse trying to remind us we should have known to stop while we were ahead

 

[Chris McQueen]

I have a spare room they could use.

 

[Ether_Snake]

Doesn't really mean anything. New Zealand has a vested interest in getting the show filmed there because it would boost spending and create a significant number of jobs that would last for several years. A project like this would funnel quite a bit of money into the economy.

Which just means Amazon can play hard to get until they're given better incentives. Amazon obviously wants to film the series in New Zealand for set consistency and reusing locations, but that isn't going to stop them haggling for a better deal.

Click to shrink...

I know, I'm saying no side has any reason to take a bad deal, so no one can cry over Amazon trying to get a lower bill. NZ can accept anything as long as it's in their favor, and if it's not then skip it. It's not like Amazon was obliged to make this series, let alone film it there.

 

[Deleted member 48205]

What's the worst that can happen? If it ends up being bad you can just ignore it, if it's good you can enjoy it.

Click to shrink...

I definitely will ignore it if it turns out bad, but the whole project just seems so unnecessary and pointless. It's probably because of how awful the Hobbit movies turned out to be honest, and this project just reeks of cash grab
Hope I'm wrong

 

[FrostyLemon]

New Zealand is Middle Earth. It's going to be compared to the original trilogy and if they haven't got the location right then it's going to look like a knock off and I'm already cynical about it. Amazon have just as much reason to push for this as NZ does for the economic boost.

 

[MarioW]

Remember when New Zealand literally changed their employment laws to appease Warner and make it easier for them to fuck over their employees?



Now imagine what they'd do for Amazon. The possibilities are endless!

Click to shrink...

There was a different political party in power then, while the current one is much more employee focused.

 

[Sidewinder]

Come to Switzerland, the actual place where Hobit and LotR took place originally! But it'd probably cost 10 Billions ;)

 

[MasterChumly]

Honestly does it even fucking matter for the New Zealand economy? At what point does it matter when the government will end up footing the bill in the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars?

 

[JealousKenny]

I'm tired of already wealthy corporations that pay hardly any taxes (if any at all) bickering over every last nickel they can get out of countries.

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Its the nature of business. Why pay for something someone else is willing to pay you for?

 

[Futureman]

Maybe they should hold a competition and pick 25 countries to see who will give them the biggest incentives.

 

[Ghettomould]

doubt it'll happen here. current govt hopefully wont budge.

+1 for ireland

 

[CloudWolf]

Fuck of to Jupiter Amazon, no one wants you.

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I want them, have you seen the stuff Amazon Studios does? We'd be missing out on a lot of great movies if not for them.

 

[Deleted member 21339]

Deal is done. They have committed to spend the money on it. No going back now. We are getting this young Aragorn series.

Click to shrink...

Young Aragorn? Young Aragorn? That's the extent of their imagination?

 

[Deranged Hermit]

Young Aragorn? Young Aragorn? That's the extent of their imagination?

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They're limited to the contents of the LotR appendices. "Young" Aragorn is honestly one of their best options, there is a lot of interesting content there.

 

[HStallion]

Young Aragorn? Young Aragorn? That's the extent of their imagination?

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I'm hoping for a show on sexy Shelob

 

[Terminus]

I wonder if Amazon has a dedicated "shake down local governments" division yet.

Nevertheless, as someone who spent the better part of a year backpacking around NZ and visiting every publically accessible LOTR filming location, I really want them to make it happen.

 

[Deleted member 5666]

Young Aragorn? Young Aragorn? That's the extent of their imagination?

Click to shrink...

Yes. Already been confirmed by Amazon.

 

[AquaRegia]

Young Aragorn? Young Aragorn? That's the extent of their imagination?

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Young Aragorn means orc hunting with the sons of Elrond, frontier skirmishes with the Rohirrim, and an epic raid on Umbar.

They'll probably mess it all up, but there is material to work with.

 

[Pagusas]

Wait before WB threw a fit, independent contractors were able to claim entitlements from the company that hired them? WTF, that is bullshit and should have been changed anyway.