Council gives $4.5m to upgrade theatre for Rings premiere

12.00pm

Wellington city councillors agreed unanimously at an emergency meeting today to underwrite the cost of refurbishing the Embassy theatre to the tune of $4.5 million.

This decision should enable Wellington to hold on to the world premiere of the third Lord of the Ring movie, Return Of the King, in December.

The council agreed to help fund a revised list to refurbish for the theatre after the original figure of $7 million was ruled out.

Mayor Kerry Prendergast said last week the council would consider a $2 million contribution reasonable but film owners New Line Cinema threatened to pull the plug on the premiere if the theatre was not brought up to standard.

- NZPA

Herald Feature: Lord of the Rings