Andy Serkis has revealed his delight at the announcement that The Hobbit will be filmed in New Zealand.
The actor is all set to reprise his role as Gollum in the eagerly anticipated movie, which had been hit by production delays due to a dispute over pay and conditions.
And while there was talk of moving the filming away from New Zealand it was announced yesterday that the movie will be shot there.
Speaking to the Press Association the actor said: "I'm delighted. It's where it should be".
"It's where it was meant to be and a lot of the people wanted to see those stories being made and told in that place and it would have been a shame to have done it anywhere else."
He added: "The film industry in New Zealand has really burgeoned through that process of making Lord Of The Rings and (director) Peter Jackson was very much at the front of that and everyone involved with the production would have been very upset to have seen it set anywhere else.
"So I'm thrilled, and relieved and delighted."
Principal photography on the movie is expected to get underway in the new year.
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