Jackson Crushes Dreams of Ultra-Extended LOTR Cuts
The acclaimed filmmaker puts an end to fan speculation about mythical longer versions of the beloved trilogy, revealing the harsh reality behind the scenes.
Dreams of marathon Middle-earth viewing sessions just got crushed. Peter Jackson has officially killed hopes for any super-extended versions of his original Lord of the Rings trilogy, telling fans there simply isn't enough material left on the cutting room floor.
"Are there great scenes that we never used? The answer is no," Jackson told Empire magazine. "There are bits and pieces, I guess. But if you did an extended-extended cut, or whatever it will get called, it would be disappointing. It would be the extended cut with a few extra seconds of something here and there; it wouldn't be worthwhile doing."
The Numbers Don't Lie
The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King already clock in at over nine hours combined. Extended editions tack on another two and a half hours. That's 11.5 hours of Middle-earth madness.
For years, whispers circulated about a mysterious "Mithril Cut" featuring Aragorn and Arwen's romance. Co-writer Philippa Boyens confirmed some Lothlórien footage exists, but not nearly enough for another release.
What Fans Might Actually Get
Jackson hasn't given up on sharing unused material completely. He wants to create a making-of documentary featuring alternative takes and bloopers. "But to this day, I haven't persuaded [the studio], because obviously it's a big undertaking," the filmmaker admitted.
The studio resistance makes sense. Producing comprehensive behind-the-scenes content requires significant investment.
New Adventures Ahead
While Jackson's original trilogy reaches its final form, fresh Middle-earth content approaches. Andy Serkis will direct and star in The Hunt for Gollum, set before The Hobbit films and Fellowship. The movie explores Gollum's early days with the One Ring.
Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf. The Hunt for Gollum hits theaters December 17, 2027. The Rings of Power season 3 also continues expanding Tolkien's universe.