Amazon have just announced they will be producing a new Lord of the Rings television series but it is unsure whether kiwis will be the butt of more hobbit jokes yet.

The location of the multi-season series has not been announced, with Weta workshop declining to comment on the matter.

A Screen Industry Guild representative said they hadn't heard "a whisper" of any Lord of the Rings series being filmed in New Zealand.

Neither Hobbiton Movie Set or the Film Commission could be reached for comment.

New Zealand On Air said as the project was privately funded they had no involvement or information.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed in a number of locations in New Zealand including Tongariro National Park which was the main setting for the land of Mordor and Hobbiton in Matamata.

The filming of the series in New Zealand could pose complications for the "Hobbit Law" which is set to be amended by the Labour government.

The controversial legislation changed the classification of those working in the film industry from employees to independent contractors.

Amazon said on Monday they had purchased the global television rights to The Lord of the Rings franchise for an undisclosed amount.

They would be producing a multi-season series exploring new storylines based on J.R.R Tolkien's novels.

New Line Cinema, the Tolkien Estate and Trust and Harper Collins would be working with Amazon to produce the series.