Sir Peter Jackson marks the end of principal photography on
Friday of the eagerly awaited The Hobbit films, parts of
which were shot in Otago. Photo supplied.
The Hobbit, featuring the vistas of Queenstown and Otago
as part of Middle Earth, wrapped on Friday and entered the
post-production phase before the world premiere of The Hobbit:
An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on November 28.
"We made it! Shoot day 266 and the end of principal
photography The Hobbit," film-maker Sir Peter Jackson said in
a posting on a social networking site on Friday.
"Thanks to our fantastic cast and crew for getting us this
far, and to all of you for your support!
"Next stop, the cutting room.
"Oh, and Comic Con! Cheers, Peter J."
Strath Taieri, Central Otago, Treble Cone, and the Earnslaw
Burn and Paradise near Queenstown, were among the New Zealand
locations used by film-makers last year.
Many cast and crew spent their free time in and around the
resort.
Tourism New Zealand revealed its mission to promote the
country to the world as the place to visit, do business and
shoot more films on location, based on The Hobbit, during the
travel trade show Trenz, in Queenstown in May.
Sir Ian McKellen, known to millions of The Lord of the Rings
fans as Gandalf the Wizard, returns in The Hobbit. The
Oscar-nominated British thespian brought his one-man
fundraising show to Wanaka and gave two sold-out performances
in mid-June.
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