Wellington to be renamed for Hobbit premiere

by CNNGo staff

When you’ve got the year’s most anticipated movie premiering in your backyard, you may as well give yourself a makeover.

Wellington, New Zealand’s capital and named last year by Lonely Planet as the “coolest little capital in the world,” will be shedding its traditional identity to become “The Middle of Middle-earth” for three weeks around November 28, the date of the film’s first showing.

“Wellington … has been integral in bringing the fantasy world of J.R.R. Tolkien to life on the big screen so it was only natural to be called the Middle of Middle-earth,” said the city’s Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown.

The whole city is being encouraged to join in on the Hobbit fever.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.The Hobbiton film set -- now open for tours. “The city will be decked out in flags and banners with the Middle of Middle-earth logo,” added Mayor Wade-Brown. “The city's businesses and retailers will be asked to get into the spirit of things and dress their shop fronts like something from Middle-earth.”

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.