It isn’t just the “Avatar” sequels that are taking advantage of New Zealand’s near-eradication of COVID-19 as several major international productions are now set to grace its shores.
Deadline reports that Netflix’s previously halted live-action adaptation of beloved anime “Cowboy Bebop,” Amazon’s megabudget “The Lord of the Rings” TV series, Netflix’s adaptation of Jeff Lemire’s comic “Sweet Tooth,” Peter Farrelly and Viggo Mortensen’s new project “Greatest Beer Run Ever,” and the kid-centric “Power Rangers Beast Morphers” will all soon be headed to the land of the long white cloud.
“The Lord of the Rings” had already entered pre-production and early shooting prior to the global quarantine order – wrapping work on the first two episodes in mid-March before the shut down. “Cowboy Bebop” had been in production last year before going on a 7-9 month hiatus after star John Cho suffered a knee injury onset in October.
The projects will see a total 206 of foreign-based cast and crew coming into the country, along with 35 family members, over the next six months. These personnel have been granted border exemptions from the country’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
In addition, ten more crew members for the “Avatar” films will join the 31 already there. New productions coming to the country and cleared to film, it should create 3,000 local jobs for Kiwis and bring $400 million to the New Zealand economy.
Source: Deadline
