Peter Jackson Quashes Hopes for More Lord of the Rings Cuts

For those still holding out for yet another, even longer version of The Lord of the Rings, the wait is officially over—and not in the way you might have hoped. Peter Jackson, the director behind the much-loved trilogy, has put paid to the idea of an 'extended-extended edition', stating that the material simply isn’t there. In a recent chat with Empire, Jackson was quite clear:

“Are there great scenes that we never used? The answer is no,”

he said.

“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.”

Between The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, the trilogy already clocks in at over nine hours. The extended editions, for those with the stamina, add another two and a half hours, pushing the total running time to a rather daunting eleven and a half hours. That’s a lot of Middle-earth, even for the most devoted fans.

Rumours and Reality: The Myth of the 'Mithril Cut'

Despite the sheer volume of footage already available, whispers have persisted over the years about a so-called ‘Mithril Cut’—a version said to include more of Aragorn and Arwen’s early romance. Co-writer Philippa Boyens, however, has poured cold water on that notion. While there is apparently a snippet or two of their courtship in Lothlórien, it’s nowhere near enough to justify a fresh edit. The dream of a treasure trove of unseen scenes, it seems, is just that—a dream.

Jackson himself has expressed interest in assembling a documentary chronicling the making of the trilogy, complete with alternative takes and the odd blooper. Yet, as he admits, persuading the studio to back such a project is no small feat:

“But to this day, I haven’t persuaded [the studio], because obviously it’s a big undertaking,”

he remarked, sounding a touch resigned.

Looking Ahead: New Adventures in Middle-earth

While the original trilogy appears to have reached its final form, the world of Middle-earth is far from dormant. Fans can look forward to fresh stories, with a new film on the horizon and another series of The Rings of Power in the pipeline. The upcoming feature, The Hunt for Gollum, will see Andy Serkis not only directing but also returning to his iconic role as Smeagol. Set before the events of The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, the story promises to explore how Gollum first came into possession of the One Ring. Ian McKellen is also set to reprise his role as Gandalf, with the film slated for release on 17 December 2027.

For those keen to revisit the saga, there’s always the option to watch the films in chronological order, or simply keep an eye out for the next chapter in the ever-expanding Middle-earth universe. Whether your interest lies with the next season of The Rings of Power or the forthcoming Hunt for Gollum, there’s no shortage of adventures ahead.