25 Years Later, A Major Lord of the Rings Fan Theory Has Been Debunked (But Peter Jackson Does Have Good News)

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It’s the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy! 2026 will mark 25 years since the first movie, The Fellowship of the Ring, premiered. Fans have loved these films for decades, and this year is extra special because all three movies are returning to theaters. What’s more, audiences will be able to watch the extended editions – over 11 hours of footage total – which longtime fans know are well worth the time.

Even though the extended editions give fans more time with the movies, they’re almost two hours longer than the original theatrical releases of The Lord of the Rings. This led to rumors within the fanbase about even longer versions, jokingly called “The Mithril Cut.” Many hoped there were cuts of the films that went beyond even the already extended editions. This idea has fascinated fans for a while, much like a surprising cliffhanger in Stranger Things. Now, Peter Jackson has finally addressed the theory.

Peter Jackson Debunks The Lord of the Rings “Mithril Cut” Fan Theory

In a recent interview with Empire, Peter Jackson addressed rumors of a “Mithril Cut” – a supposed collection of even longer versions of his films – and confirmed that it doesn’t exist.

Jackson confirmed that there aren’t any truly great, unused scenes from the film. While there are some small bits and pieces that didn’t make the final cut, he believes an extended version wouldn’t be worth releasing. It would only add a few extra seconds here and there and ultimately be disappointing for viewers.

Philippa Boyens, a co-writer of the film series, has confirmed that the rumored ‘Mithril Cut’ doesn’t exist. She acknowledged that some extra footage, like a scene of a young Aragorn in Lothlórien, was filmed, but emphasized that it wasn’t substantial enough to create a separate cut of the movie. “There was that,” she said, “But there’s not a lot. There really isn’t.”

Jackson mentioned that while the extended version of The Lord of the Rings is complete, there’s still a possibility that previously unseen footage could be released in the future. He also expressed his desire to create a more detailed documentary about the filmmaking process, including all the extra footage that wasn’t used in the original films.

He hinted that the footage includes unused scenes, funny mistakes, and a behind-the-scenes look at how the films were made. However, he hasn’t been able to convince the studio to release it, as it would be a large project.

Peter Jackson is known for meticulously reviewing hours of film for his documentaries. His previous projects included the Oscar-nominated They Shall Not Grow Old, where he used modern technology to colorize and restore World War I footage, and the eight-hour The Beatles: Get Back, which featured previously unseen footage of the band in 1969, shortly before they split up. This new documentary is likely to be popular with fans, who will probably add it to their list of films to watch after finishing his longer, extended editions.

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2026-01-13 21:40