Peter Jackson Finally Addresses Exciting Lord of the Rings Rumor

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In 2026, the popular movie trilogy will celebrate its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century since the first film, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, was released. Director Peter Jackson is now addressing a long-held rumor about the Lord of the Rings series.

For years, fans of the fantasy trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s work have argued about which version is better – the original releases or the longer, theatrical cuts. There’s been speculation that director Peter Jackson actually filmed even more material than what made it into the already extensive, 11-hour extended editions. In a recent interview with Empire magazine, Jackson finally confirmed or denied these rumors.

Rumors have circulated among fans about a possible “Mithril Cut” or even longer version of the trilogy. However, director Peter Jackson has confirmed that such a cut does not exist.

He confirmed there weren’t any significant deleted scenes. While some small bits and pieces exist, he believes an extended cut wouldn’t be worth releasing. It would only add a few extra seconds here and there and wouldn’t offer a substantially different experience, he explained.

Stories have circulated about an extended version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, including scenes of Aragorn pursuing Arwen before he grew his beard. Co-writer Philippa Boyens confirmed these rumors originated with scenes filmed in Lothlórien, but clarified that the footage wasn’t substantial. “There was some, but not a lot. Really, there isn’t much,” she explained.

Could there be a ‘Mithril’ Documentary?

While fans hoping for an extended “Mithril Cut” of The Lord of the Rings might be let down, Peter Jackson still plans to create a documentary about how the films were made. He has a wealth of footage, including alternate takes and bloopers, that could be used for a comprehensive look behind the scenes. However, he hasn’t yet convinced the studio to greenlight the project, as it would be a significant undertaking. Instead of an extended cut, we might eventually see a detailed “Mithril Documentary” about the filmmaking process.

Fans of Middle-earth have a new movie to look forward to. Although it won’t be released until December 2027, producer Philippa Boyens has shared that she’s already seen some early footage. Andy Serkis will reprise his role as Gollum and is also directing the film.

I was directing Andy on the motion capture stage and told him to get into position. I was amazed by how easily he climbed the equipment – he’s incredibly fit! I jokingly asked him if he could start looking older.”

The original Lord of the Rings trilogy is streaming on HBO Max.

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2026-01-14 00:39