Peter Jackson Confirms No ‘Extended-Extended Edition’ of Lord of the Rings Exists: “There Are No Unused Great Scenes”

Tough break for Lord of the Rings enthusiasts: it seems there won’t be any more extended versions of the original trilogy. Director Peter Jackson has confirmed that there simply isn’t enough footage to create an ‘extended-extended edition.’

In a recent interview, Jackson stated, “Are there great scenes that we never used? The answer is no. 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 original trilogy, comprising The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, already runs over nine hours, with the extended versions adding another two and a half hours, bringing the total to over 11.5 hours of epic storytelling. That’s quite the marathon!

There have been whispers about a ‘Mithril Cut’ that would showcase Aragorn and Arwen during their courtship. However, co-writer Philippa Boyens mentioned that while there is some footage from Lothlórien, it’s not enough to justify another cut. Jackson, on the other hand, has expressed a desire to release a documentary about the making of The Lord of the Rings, featuring unseen alternative takes and bloopers. “But to this day, I haven’t persuaded [the studio], because obviously it’s a big undertaking,” he added.

Despite this news, fans have plenty to look forward to. While Jackson’s trilogy may be wrapped up, a new addition to the franchise is on the horizon, alongside The Rings of Power season 3. Andy Serkis will not only direct but also reprise his role as Smeagol in the upcoming film The Hunt for Gollum, which is set before the events of The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, focusing on Gollum’s first encounter with the One Ring. Ian McKellen is also set to return as Gandalf.

Mark your calendars for The Hunt for Gollum, which is slated for release on December 17, 2027.