Wētā Workshop

Wētā Workshop World-class design and manufacture for films, games, collectibles, and attractions. NZ tourist destination, games studio and collectibles company.
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Academy Award-winning design & effects manufacturing facility servicing the world's creative industries.

Honour the great hero of humble origins, Samwise Gamgee, in our new Middle-earth art series.With a Limited Edition of ju...
10/09/2025

Honour the great hero of humble origins, Samwise Gamgee, in our new Middle-earth art series.

With a Limited Edition of just 1379 and more characters to come, don’t miss out. Buy now at: https://www.wetanz.com/samwise-print-limited

06/09/2025
04/09/2025

The war for our world begins.

Go behind-the-scenes of Tron: Ares, directed by Joachim Rønning. In theatres October 10, with specialty costume contribution from Wētā Workshop.

Video reposted from Walt Disney Studios.

Collision imminent. Go behind-the-scenes of FX's Alien Earth, created by Noah Hawley. Video reposted from ComicBook.com.
03/09/2025

Collision imminent.

Go behind-the-scenes of FX's Alien Earth, created by Noah Hawley.

Video reposted from ComicBook.com.

03/09/2025
The boot that shattered Narsil.Handmade and acid-etched from plate steel by the incredibly talented Stuart Johnson, this...
31/08/2025

The boot that shattered Narsil.

Handmade and acid-etched from plate steel by the incredibly talented Stuart Johnson, this armour was built to match Sauron’s towering scale. The boot alone was enormous — so much so that it required its very own operator. Luckily, Wētā Workshop co-founder Richard Taylor was on hand for this moment in The Lord of the Rings cinematic trilogy.

Tales of the Shire released one month ago, and it’s been so wonderful to see so many Hobbits out and about in Bywater. W...
29/08/2025

Tales of the Shire released one month ago, and it’s been so wonderful to see so many Hobbits out and about in Bywater. When we created this cosy life sim in this peaceful corner of Middle-earth, we wanted it to feel like a love letter to Tolkien’s world — a place full of fresh air, rich soil and life’s simple pleasures.

A heartfelt thank you to all the Boffins, Underhills, Lightfoots, Puddifoots, Smallburrows, Bracegirdles and many more who now call Bywater home, who have reviewed our cosy game on Steam (we’re thrilled Tales of the Shire has been rated Very Positive), and who have been with us on this great journey.

🌻 Tales of the Shire is available on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S 🌻

Discover what players are saying about our cosy game:

🌷 The AU Review: https://www.theaureview.com/games/tales-of-the-shire-a-lord-of-the-rings-game-is-flawed-in-parts-and-charming-in-others/

🐑 Gaming Trend: https://gamingtrend.com/reviews/tales-of-the-shire-a-lord-of-the-rings-game-review-a-feast-fit-for-a-hobbit/

🪶 ComicBook: https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/tales-of-the-shire-review/

🎣 Sportskeeda: https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/tales-of-the-shire-review

The complete trilogy is here.The Ruins of Revelation, A Deal at the Opera, and The Sanctuary of Flame; three miniature t...
28/08/2025

The complete trilogy is here.

The Ruins of Revelation, A Deal at the Opera, and The Sanctuary of Flame; three miniature treasures inspired by Lara Croft’s adventures in the recent Tomb Raider remasters.

Pre-order at: https://www.wetanz.com/brands/tomb-raider

Worlds will collide. Tron: Ares, with specialty costume fabrication by Wētā Workshop, is in theatres October 10.
26/08/2025

Worlds will collide. Tron: Ares, with specialty costume fabrication by Wētā Workshop, is in theatres October 10.

Check out a new exclusive image from , which was just named the most anticipated movie of the fall season in a Fandango survey of over 2,000 moviegoers.

Only in theaters October 10.

25/08/2025

Their journey is far from over, yet the bonds that will see them to its end have been forged stronger than the mithril that surrounds them.

Watch as our artists reveal every detail of the Master Collection - The Fellowship of the Ring.

With an edition size of just 389, don’t leave things to chance.
Pre-order now at: https://www.wetanz.com/fellowship-in-moria-masters-collection

For nearly seven months, you’ve followed the journey. Nine puzzle pieces revealed. Shadows lifted at San Diego Comic-Con...
24/08/2025

For nearly seven months, you’ve followed the journey. Nine puzzle pieces revealed. Shadows lifted at San Diego Comic-Con. And now the culmination draws near.

In just 24 hours, pre-orders for our Masters Collection – The Fellowship of the Ring go live.

Extremely limited numbers await. Are you ready? https://www.wetanz.com/fellowship-in-moria-masters-collection

He laid waste to the town of Dale, seized the Lonely Mountain (along with all its treasure), and presented us with a uni...
23/08/2025

He laid waste to the town of Dale, seized the Lonely Mountain (along with all its treasure), and presented us with a unique opportunity: a chance to redefine the archetypal dragon. Over several years, we worked closely with the art department of The Hobbit film trilogy, exploring countless iterations of Smaug.

Some of the earliest concepts were inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s own sinuous, worm-like drawings, while others leaned more lizard-like. We studied dinosaurs, crocodiles, bats, big cats and birds, all in pursuit of a believable anatomy. Hundreds of designs later, this fire-breathing dragon became more defined — evolving from a formidable creature and into a wicked, unforgettable character.

Sculptor Jamie Beswarick’s maquettes marked a turning point. These studies helped solidify Smaug’s anatomical structure, using every physiological feature to emphasise his power. The facial features in the final design seen on screen can be traced directly to this singular work of art.

Artists: Jamie Beswarick, Gus Hunter, Nick Keller

Address

1 Weka Street
Wellington
6022

Telephone

+6449094000

Website

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We make cool stuff!

Weta Workshop is a five-time Academy Award®-winning concept design studio and physical effects manufacturing facility that services the world’s entertainment and creative industries. For over 20 years, we have applied our creativity and craftsmanship to blockbuster films and hit television series including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit motion picture trilogies, Blade Runner 2049, Saban’s Power Rangers, King Kong, Avatar, The Chronicles of Narnia, District 9, Elysium, Thunderbirds Are Go, and Ghost in the Shell.

In additional to our film and television projects, we’re also an international tourist destination, producer of consumer products from Middle-earth (and far beyond), behind-the-scenes and media production facility, and creator of public sculptures and immersive exhibition experiences like the record-breaking Gallipoli: The scale of our war, at New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa. Creativity, innovation, and authenticity are the threads that tie this diverse mix of offerings into one fantastical whole.

On March 19, 2018, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern officially opened our brand new, world-leading mixed reality facility: Weta Gameshop. Together with groundbreaking Florida technology company Magic Leap, we’re forging new frontiers in mixed reality as we create Dr. Grordbort’s Invaders for Magic Leap’s spatial computing platform.

From humble beginnings in the back room of their flat, co-founders Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger have built Weta Workshop into what it is today. Richard, Tania, and the wider Weta Workshop crew regularly go on the road to meet film buffs and lovers of cool stuff worldwide!