From Otago Daily Times: Hundreds of cast and crew for the Hobbit films have flown to Dunedin International Airport seemingly bound for Otago film sets. An airport spokesman said four chartered flights carrying 320 cast and crew arrived, starting on Thursday night with a BAe146 Whisper Jet from Wellington. Yesterday, another three flights arrived, two from Wellington, and one from Taupo, also on chartered Whisper Jets. A large contingent of rental cars had been organised for the arrivals, but he did not have further details.
The spokesman said he had not known the large group was coming until a couple of days ago. A Dunedin man said he spotted English actor Martin Freeman, who played Tim in the TV comedy The Office, in Centre City New World yesterday. Freeman plays Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit films. Filming locations for the two-film series are closely guarded, but include areas around Queenstown, Middlemarch, and possibly Mosgiel. more…