Jackson Admits He'd Never Tackle LOTR Epic Again
The acclaimed filmmaker opens up about the grueling process behind Middle-earth's cinematic success, while a familiar face prepares to take the director's chair for the next adventure.
The filmmaker who brought Middle-earth to life admits he wouldn't dare attempt such a massive undertaking today. Peter Jackson, whose Lord of the Rings trilogy earned nearly $3 bn worldwide, recently opened up about the exhausting reality behind those groundbreaking films.
Speaking with Empire Magazine for the trilogy's 25th anniversary, Jackson didn't mince words about the experience that changed his career forever. The project that won him an Oscar for Best Director also left him questioning his younger self's ambition.
The Overwhelming Reality of Middle-earth
"What the hell were we thinking? I mean, I would hesitate to even think that we could do anything like that now. It's almost overwhelming to think back on. I was younger, we were all younger, and enthusiastic and naive," Jackson revealed.
The director's honesty extends beyond simple nostalgia. "I don't miss those days. Because there's no point missing them; they came, and they went, and life goes on, and I've done quite a few things since. But I'm certainly proud of the films."
Philippa Boyens, Jackson's writing partner throughout the fantasy saga, shared similar sentiments. She initially expected maybe three months of work from the project. "There were moments that he absolutely saw because that's how his brain works. You know, following Gandalf over the edge, fighting the Balrog," Boyens recalled.
Years of Fighting for the Vision
The path to bringing Tolkien's work to screens wasn't smooth. Jackson and his team spent years pushing for their passion project before finding support from New Line Cinema's Robert Shaye. Starting in the late '90s, every detail demanded careful consideration.
From visual effects to the complex literary layers of Tolkien's masterpiece, hundreds of elements required Jackson's attention. The adaptation process meant balancing faithfulness to the source material with cinematic storytelling demands.
Passing the Torch to Gollum
More than two decades after the original trilogy's debut, the franchise is getting fresh blood. Andy Serkis, who portrayed Gollum, will direct "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum." The film has a December 2027 release date, though plot details remain secret.
Elijah Wood, who played Frodo, expressed excitement about the project's continuity. "There are some wonderful people involved. The thing that is so exciting is that it is really getting the creative band back together... It is going to be shot in New Zealand. So, it is going to carry with it such continuity with so many people who are a part of Lord of the Rings," Wood said. "It feels like getting that old machine up and running again with all of the right people."