AmazonAmazon Studios announced on Friday that the second season of its expensive TV series Lord of the Rings will be filmed in the UK, moving the fictional "Middle Earth" out of New Zealand for the first time.

New Zealand's rolling mountains, meadows and forests are famous as the setting for the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit trilogy. Amazon.Com Inc's TV version of the Lord of the Rings is currently being filmed in New Zealand, but the company said on Friday that it plans to move filming for the second season to the UK.

Amazon.Com Inc said: "the transfer from New Zealand to the UK is in line with the studio's strategy to expand its production footprint and invest in studio space across the UK, where many of Amazon.Com Inc's word-of-mouth series and films have been filmed."

The New Zealand government said it was informed of the decision yesterday and was disappointed with Amazon.Com Inc's decision.

"Amazon.Com Inc Studio recommends that post-production work for the first season will continue in New Zealand until June 2022," New Zealand Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash (Stuart Nash) said in a statement.

Amazon.Com Inc said that pre-production of the second season of Lord of the Rings will begin in the UK next year.

Amazon.Com Inc Studios said earlier this month that the TV version of Lord of the Rings will be launched in September 2022 and is expected to produce a total of five seasons, making it one of the most expensive TV dramas in history.

Amazon.Com Inc spent about $465 million filming the first season of Lord of the Rings, according to the New Zealand government.