The highly-anticipated Lord Of The Rings series has already been commission for a second series and it’s coming to the UK, Amazon has announced.

The as-yet-untitled, big-budget series based on JRR Tolkien’s books has finished filming in New Zealand for its first instalment and is set to premiere on Prime Video in September next year.

The show will be aired in 240 countries and territories worldwide, with new episodes available weekly. Filming of Season One completed this week in New Zealand.

The new epic drama brings to screens for the very first time J.R.R. Tolkien’s fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history.

Why is it Amazon moving production to the UK?

The switch to the UK “aligns with the studio’s strategy of expanding its production footprint and investing in studio space across” the country, Amazon said.

Vernon Sanders, VP and co-head of TV at Amazon Studios, said: “We want to thank the people and the government of New Zealand for their hospitality and dedication and for providing The Lord Of The Rings series with an incredible place to begin this epic journey.

“We are grateful to the New Zealand Film Commission, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Tourism New Zealand, Auckland Unlimited, and others for their tremendous collaboration that supported the New Zealand film sector and the local economy during the production of Season One.”

Filming for the second season will begin in the UK from June next year.

New Zealand had been the location for Sir Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies.

Beginning in a time of relative peace, thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth.

“The journey begins September 2, 2022 with the premiere of our original The Lord of the Rings series on Prime Video,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios.

“I can’t express enough just how excited we all are to take our global audience on a new and epic journey through Middle-earth!"

Oliver Dowden 'delighted'

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “Delighted to hear that Amazon will be making their blockbuster second series of Lord Of The Rings right here in the UK.

“With our strengths in talent, production and the great environment created by UK Government initiatives, including the creative tax reliefs and the Film and TV Restart Scheme, it’s clear that we are attracting the very best content-makers in the world to our shores.

“Thousands of high-quality jobs all across the UK will be created and supported by The Lord Of The Rings television series so this is very exciting news as we build back better.”