Amazon Studios announced Friday it would film the second season of its original series, inspired by the books of J.R.R. Tolkien, to Britain.

New Zealand has long been associated with “The Lord of the Rings”. This shift to Britain is a major blow to the nation’s small but vibrant screen industry.

“The shift from New Zealand to the UK aligns with the studio’s strategy of expanding its production footprint and investing in studio space across the U.K., with many of Amazon Studios’ tentpole series and films already calling the UK home,” the company said in a statement.

The production is one of the most expensive in history, with Amazon spending at least U$465 million on the first season, which just finished filming in New Zealand, according to government figures.

The series employed 1,200 people in New Zealand directly and another 700 indirectly, according to the figures.

“This is a shock to everyone,” said Denise Roche, the director of Equity NZ, a union representing performers. “I really feel for all the small businesses, the tech people who invested in this for the future. Nobody had any inkling.”

Roche said people feel let down by Amazon, although she added that the industry was resilient.

Amazon said the as-yet untitled series takes place on Middle Earth during the Second Age, thousands of years before the events depicted in Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” books and the subsequent films directed by Peter Jackson.

Filming began last year but was delayed due to the coronavirus. Post-production on the first season will continue in New Zealand through June before the show premieres on Prime Video in September next year.

The move to Britain comes just four months after Amazon signed a deal with the New Zealand government to get an extra 5% rebate on top of the 20% — or $92 million — it was already claiming from New Zealand taxpayers under a screen production grant.

Many locations around the world compete for productions by offering similar, generous rebates.

At the time of the deal, New Zealand’s Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash said the production would bring economic and tourism benefits to the country for years to come and create “an enduring legacy for our screen industry.”

Nash said Friday the government had found out only a day earlier that Amazon was leaving and he was disappointed by the decision. He said the government was withdrawing the offer of the extra 5%.

Amazon said it no longer intended to pursue collecting the extra money. But it will still walk away with at least $92 million from New Zealand taxpayers.

“The international film sector is incredibly competitive and highly mobile. We have no regrets about giving this production our best shot with government support,” Nash said. “However, we are disappointed for the local screen industry.”

New Zealand became synonymous with Tolkien’s world of orcs, elves and hobbits after Jackson directed six movies in the South Pacific nation. “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “The Hobbit” trilogy combined grossed nearly $6 billion at the box office.

When Amazon Studios first announced it would film in New Zealand, it said the pristine coasts, forests, and mountains made it the perfect place to bring to life the primordial beauty of early Middle Earth.

The large ensemble cast includes Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Sophia Nomvete and Lloyd Owen.

Zarinah Hassan, commonly known as Zari Hassan a Ugandan born socialite and Tanzanian artist Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack populaly known by his stage name Diamond Platinumz are scheduled to appear in a Netflix Documentary soon.

Netflix South Africa has announced that the celebrities will appear in a documentary titled ‘Young, Famous & African’ which will start airing in a few days online.

Zari from Uganda has already asked her fans to stay attentive, because they will get to know a lot about them and have fun as well.

“Born in Uganda. Flourishing in Mzansi. Now we’re taking over Netflix! See me bossing it up,” Zari said.

Meanwhile, Diamond will be the second Tanzanian to appear on Netflix after Idris Sultan who appeared on March 26 this year through a film called ‘Slay’ which brought together African stars like Ramsey Nouah, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Simphiwe Ngema, Amanda Du-Pont.

The Netflix network was launched on August 29, 1997 at California in the United States, to date more than 200 million people worldwide have registered as subscribers.

Netflix is available worldwide except in Syria, North Korea and China, Also it has branches in Netherlands, France, Brazil, the United Kingdom, India, Japan and South Korea, South Africa and Nigeria.

Diamond Platnumz, the Tanzanian Bongo Flava star has responded to his critics that constantly scold him.

Recently a section activists called for his removal from the BET Awards and Diamond says it is their opinion and he respects it.

Diamond made the remarks while attending an event organized by actress Irene Uwoya in honour of her son Krish.

“I respect everyone’s opinion, when someone enjoys my music, insults me, all I say is that I’m grateful,” said Diamond on Wasafi TV.

Diamond who has not released songs for more than six months now, has been one of the most trending topics in the music industry.

Since he was nominated to vie for the Best International act, an online campaign was launched against the artist to be removed for his involvement in politics.

Opponents of the artist through social media are alleged to have done so in order to express their feelings due to the artist’s support for the ruling party CCM.

The artist has promised to address the issue regarding the petition in the next few days.

He says he has not taken it personally.

“Do not hate someone who says something bad about you, you never know, don’t let that anger get the better of you, tomorrow he might regret it and apologize to you,” said Diamond.