Lord of the Rings could be filmed in Edinburgh’s new waterfront studio

The £1 billion Lord of the Rings series is set to be filmed at Edinburgh’s new waterfront film studio – if it is ready on time.

It was hoped when plans were released last year that the vast Pelamis warehouse in Leith’s docklands will become a “world-class” production facility suitable for the biggest blockbuster movies and high-quality drama series by the end of 2019.

The facility has now been handed a huge boost before it has even opened with Amazon Studios’ blockbuster based on JRR Tolkien’s books being lined up as its first major client.

The online streaming giants are expected to run a threemonth filming and production programme starting in August.

Creative Scotland are in the final stages of appointing a private operator to lease, refurbish and run the studio.

An industry source told the Sunday Mail: “Lord of the Rings producers are hoping to start filming at the new studio from about August to November. A lot of arrangements are already in place. All that remains now is for it to be up and running in time – so the clock is ticking.”