Peter Jackson's Weta FX opens Vancouver studio

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Weta FX, the New Zealand-based visual effects house co-founded by Peter Jackson, is opening its second studio in Vancouver as part of plans to expand globally. Initially, 75 artists will fill the office, which opened its doors on Monday. The B.C. city office complements an existing corporate office in Los Angeles. Weta FX has worked on Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Warner Bros.' The Batman, Marvel's Moon Knight, Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, and James Cameron's Avatar. The Canadian studio will be working on an Avatar sequel. 

The expansion comes months after tech firm Unity acquired Jackson's Weta Digital company for US$1.625 billion (around CA$2.03 billion converted) in cash and stock in November 2021. Unity bought tech assets of Weta and now operates as Weta Digital. At the same time, Jackson's visual effects business remains separate under the Weta FX banner.

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Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series might have bits and pieces of Peter Jackson’s take on Middle-earth

While Amazon’s multi-season show based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s expansive Middle-earth universe isn’t going to directly carry over from the Peter Jackson movie adaptations of Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, it seems there might be elements of it in the series. At least this is according to the report from The Hollywood Reporter, which also claims that production must start “within two years.” Amazon said to have worked out a deal with New Line Cinemas and Warner Bros. to let them use bits of the movies in the rumoured five-season show. But the show, as Amazon describes, will “explore new storylines preceding J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring.” There is also talk of possible spinoff series. With rich world Tolkien created in these books, Amazon certainly has a lot of material to work with.

According to THR’s report, it isn’t certain if Jackson will be involved in the production. But this acquisition does help Amazon face up against the other big names in video streaming and content creation. It’s said that Amazon is expected to spend around US$1 billion on the show for the duration of its run. Now, whether this will be a hit with the fans is another question altogether and one we can only answer when the show or shows do materialize. 

Source: The Verge