Can 'Lord of the Rings' Bring Hollywood to New Zealand?
Staff Reporter

New Zealand tourism is bound to substantially increase after the release of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which was filmed throughout New Zealand. However, the country is hoping for an increase in Hollywood movies being filmed in New Zealand too.

According to Bloomberg, "The country that produced Oscar winners Russell Crowe and Anna Paquin hopes the much-anticipated release of the movie version of J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy Lord of the Rings, filmed in New Zealand, will attract more big Hollywood productions to its scenery and low costs. AOL Time Warner Inc. invested $270 million to film Tolkien's fantasy in New Zealand."

The Lord of the Rings release this December is becoming one of the most anticipated movies ever and New Zealand hopes that the lush locations prove to be an attraction and magnet to Hollywood companies.