The world premiere of the much anticipated prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy will result in New Zealand’s capital Wellington renaming itself next month.
For three weeks, the city will be known as The Middle of Middle Earth – a nod to the fictional setting of all the adventures that take place in the popular fantasy that made a successful transition from books to film.
Wellington is spending a massive NZD$1.1 million (approximately £557,800) in preparing the city for the first official screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on November 28th.
Mayor Celia Wade-Brown explained that part of the reason for playfully changing the city’s name was to highlight its central importance to the country’s burgeoning and innovative film industry.
“It’s also the city that has been integral in bringing the fantasy world of J.R.R. Tolkien to life on the big screen,” she added.
Peter Jackson, the director of the new film and a resident in Wellington, commented that he was thrilled the film was premiering in The Middle of Middle Earth.
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