'Lord of the Rings' returns to New Zealand for Amazon's TV series

Amazon's TV series adaptation of 'The Lord of the Rings' is heading back to New Zealand after Peter Jackson filmed the trilogy and its prequel there.

In a statement on Tuesday, the firm said pre-production had started and filming in Auckland would begin in the coming months.

Set to be the most expensive TV show ever, the Amazon production will explore fresh storylines preceding J R R Tolkien's classic The Fellowship of the Ring.

"As we searched for the location in which we could bring to life the primordial beauty of the Second Age of Middle-earth, we knew we needed to find somewhere majestic, with pristine coasts, forests, and mountains, that also is a home to world-class sets, studios, and highly skilled and experienced craftspeople and other staff. And we're happy that we are now able to officially confirm New Zealand as our home for our series based on stories from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings," said showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay in a statement.