Peter Jackson Reflects on Lord of the Rings Legacy

Peter Jackson, the creative force behind the Lord of the Rings films, has spoken candidly about the monumental task of bringing Tolkien’s world to the big screen. While he’s chuffed with the outcome and the impact the trilogy had, Jackson admits he doesn’t pine for the exhausting process that came with it. The films, which raked in close to $3 billion globally, established him as one of the few directors able to tackle such a massive literary adaptation. But the journey, he says, was nothing short of overwhelming.

Marking the 25th anniversary of the first film’s release, Jackson sat down for a chat about the experience. Winning an Oscar for Best Director was a career highlight, but he’s not sure he’d sign up for the same challenge again. He put it bluntly:

‘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.

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.’

Behind the Scenes: A Gruelling Creative Trek

Philippa Boyens, who co-wrote the scripts and has been a long-time collaborator with Jackson, echoed his thoughts. She recalled how daunting the project seemed at first, but always trusted Jackson’s vision to see it through.

‘I thought I'd be lucky if I got maybe three months' work out of it. There were moments that he absolutely saw because that's how his brain works. You know, following Gandalf over the edge, fighting the Balrog.’

Jackson and his team spent years fighting to get the films made, eventually finding the right backer in New Line Cinema. Starting in the late ‘90s, the crew poured over every detail, from the visual effects to the intricate layers of Tolkien’s story. Hundreds of creative decisions went into making sure the adaptation stayed true to the source material, making it a massive undertaking for everyone involved.

The Next Chapter: The Hunt for Gollum

More than two decades after the original trilogy hit cinemas, and over ten years since the Hobbit films, the franchise is gearing up for a fresh live-action instalment. This time, Andy Serkis—famous for playing Gollum—will be in the director’s chair for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. As the title suggests, the story is expected to follow the elusive character’s journey.

Details about the new film are still tightly under wraps, with a release date set for December 2027. Fans are keen for more information, but so far, the cast and plot remain a mystery. Elijah Wood, who played Frodo, recently shared his excitement:

‘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, and I am really excited about that. It feels like getting that old machine up and running again with all of the right people.’