Still hope for ‘Rings’ in NZ

DON’T rule us out of The Lord of the Rings running just yet.

Despite British reports earlier this week suggesting Scotland will provide the backdrop for Amazon’s proposed lavish television series inspired by

J R R Tolkien’s books, nothing has been confirmed.

Creative Scotland has remained silent, the global streaming service has teased that there will be ‘‘more news shortly’’ and officials in New Zealand are tight-lipped. Fan-site theonering.net is also convinced that New Zealand reprising its role as Middle Earth (which it did successfully for Sir Peter Jackson’s Rings and Hobbit movie trilogies) was still the most likely outcome for the US$1 billion (NZ$1.49b) project, believed to be the largest in TV history.

‘‘While it is important to have backup locations, part of this is a negotiation tactic for a better tax deal in New Zealand,’’ a post on the site this week said in response to the Scottish speculation.

In December, fears were raised that Amazon Studios would pull out of negotiations to shoot here because of a lack of Auckland studio capacity. Amazon executives met Economic Development Minister David Parker just before Christmas. It is understood that ended with hopes for a positive resolution by the end of January but calls to the minister’s office and the NZ Film Commission were met with a firm ‘‘no comment’’.

As for Sir Peter Jackson’s involvement, Amazon reaffirmed this week that the director was aware of the project, but they had no news on that either.