Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings series has suspended production in New Zealand due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With government across the world taking measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus, New Zealand closed its borders on March 13. Now, production staff for Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series has been informed that filming is suspended and that “there are no clear answers to when we will resume.”
Producers GSR Productions sent the announcement to roughly 800 cast and crew members, which was published by The New Zealand Herald:
“In an abundance of caution, UAP [Untitled Amazon Project] has suspended production for the next two (2) weeks commencing Monday, March 16. This is done in an environment where travel restrictions directed at the control of Covid-19 are issued daily by New Zealand and most other countries.”
While no one involved in the Lord of the Rings series is believed to have tested positive for coronavirus, cast and crew were told: “not report to the set or to the studio without the express permission of your supervisor.” The announcement did not say when production is expected to resume and those involved are due to receive further details of the shutdown and associated procedures on Monday.
Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series is being developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, who will lead a writer’s room that includes Game of Thrones alum Bryan Cogman. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom director J. A. Bayona is set to direct multiple episodes of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series.
Full details on Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series are currently unknown, though it is reported to be before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring during the Second Age of Middle-Earth. The Lord of the Rings series is produced by Amazon Studios in cooperation with the Tolkien Estate and Trust, HarperCollins, and New Line Cinema. The series stars 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.
Amazon has not announced a released date for the Lord of the Rings series.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
