As if Warners doesn't have enough aggravation with the stalled production of "The Hobbit" in New Zealand, losing millions in pre-production costs, as well as goodwill in the industry following the studio's blacklisting by a gang of international actors unions, comes word that New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has warned Hollywood executives he would not enter a bidding war for "The Hobbit" movies, should producers decide to shoot elsewhere..gif)
"From the conversations I've had with Warner Bros. so far, I've made it quite clear if it comes to a bidding war, then New Zealand is out," said Key. In addition, Key said he was also concerned that if he offered 'special' tax concessions to "The Hobbit" producers, it would set a precedent for other films made in the country. "There is a limit here", he said.
Director Peter Jackson, whose WETA Digital SFX house is located in Wellington, New Zealand, said he always wanted "The Hobbit" to be filmed in New Zealand, although the ongoing industrial unrest and the rising New Zealand dollar meant the final decision was now out of his hands.
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As Warners contemplates moving the production to Leaveden Film Studios in London, UK, home of the studio's successful "Harry Potter" film franchise, it should be noted that "The Hobbit" author J. R. R. Tolkien, placed the geogaphy of his 'Middle-Earth' in Europe, not New Zealand.
"The action of the story takes place in the North-west of 'Middle-earth', equivalent in latitude to the coastlands of Europe and the north shores of the Mediterranean," Tolkien wrote. "If Hobbiton and Rivendell are taken (as intended) to be at about the latitude of Oxford, then Minas Tirith, 600 miles south, is at about the latitude of Florence.
"'The Shire' (land of the Hobbit) is based on rural England and not any other country in the world..."
Click the images to enlarge...
Director Peter Jackson, whose WETA Digital SFX house is located in Wellington, New Zealand, said he always wanted "The Hobbit" to be filmed in New Zealand, although the ongoing industrial unrest and the rising New Zealand dollar meant the final decision was now out of his hands..jpg)
As Warners contemplates moving the production to Leaveden Film Studios in London, UK, home of the studio's successful "Harry Potter" film franchise, it should be noted that "The Hobbit" author J. R. R. Tolkien, placed the geogaphy of his 'Middle-Earth' in Europe, not New Zealand."The action of the story takes place in the North-west of 'Middle-earth', equivalent in latitude to the coastlands of Europe and the north shores of the Mediterranean," Tolkien wrote. "If Hobbiton and Rivendell are taken (as intended) to be at about the latitude of Oxford, then Minas Tirith, 600 miles south, is at about the latitude of Florence.
"'The Shire' (land of the Hobbit) is based on rural England and not any other country in the world..."
Click the images to enlarge...
