Alongside its iconic cast, complete with now-household names like Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, and Liv Tyler one character emerged as a breakout star following the release of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy: New Zealand. 

Filmed over roughly 14 months, New Zealand played an integral role in the making of the beloved fantasy franchise, helping bring Middle Earth to the life ... with few magical elements peppered in by the film's creative team. 

From behind-the-scenes laughs to snaps of the local landscapes, here are 28 Lord of the Rings production photos taken in New Zealand.