Mountain not needed for movie

Rumours that Mt Taranaki may be used as a dragon's lair in The Hobbit movie are unfounded.

Speculation that Mt Taranaki was in line for silver- screen stardom arose after it was reported Mt Ngauruhoe had been ruled out because of iwi objections.

Three Foot Seven Productions publicist Melissa Booth said there was no way Mt Taranaki would be used as the Lonely Mountain.

"We don't need a mountain," Ms Booth said.

"Mt Doom (in the Lord Of The Rings) is a completely artist-created fictional painting," she said.

"It's already established so it can't be changed."

She confirmed that location scouts had scoured the country looking at landscapes, including Taranaki.

"It's really just looking at this point.

"They do a lot of primary research which then gets whittled down to the landscapes were looking at using.

"We're still working out what, if any, mountains will be used."

Shooting for The Hobbit begins on March 21.

- © Fairfax NZ News