[ Hobbit Movies to Stay in New Zealand – NTDTV ]
The Hobbit will stay in New Zealand after all, after a deal was struck between the New Zealand government and Warner Bros. Studios to keep production and filming in the Pacific island, New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key announced in a statement on Wednesday.
"I am delighted we have achieved this result," Key said. "Making the two Hobbit movies here will not only safeguard work for thousands of New Zealanders, but it will also follow the success of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy in once again promoting NZ on the world stage."
Rumors swirled last week that production of the two Hobbit films could move from New Zealand despite the cessation of bans from two actor guilds. Warner Bros. ultimately decided to keep the films in New Zealand on the condition that the studio and the New Zealand government agree to a distinction between independent contractors and film employees.
“The industrial issues that have arisen in the past several weeks have highlighted a significant set of concerns for the way in which the international film industry operates,” Key said.
The accord also includes financial details: the New Zealand government will compensate Warner Bros. for US$10 million in marketing costs, and up to US$7.5 million per film in rebates.
Production for The Hobbit now seems to be full steam ahead. Last week, Martin Freeman, who starred in the British version of The Office, was cast as Bilbo Baggins in the film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novel.
