The Most Controversial Lord of the Rings Movie Cut Received JRR Tolkien’s Seal of Approval

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While many fans prefer Peter Jackson’s extended editions of the *Lord of the Rings* films, most of the extra scenes don’t actually change the story. They mostly add depth to the characters, include details from J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, or offer extra fun with jokes and action. It makes sense that Jackson cut these moments for the shorter theatrical releases. However, fans strongly feel one scene *should* have stayed in: Saruman the White’s death, which appears in the extended edition of *The Return of the King*.

Although Saruman played a significant role in the first two *Lord of the Rings* films, he was completely left out of the theatrical release of *The Return of the King*. He’s only mentioned briefly when Gandalf and Treebeard discuss a wizard being held captive, with Gandalf stating Saruman will remain imprisoned under Treebeard’s watch. Viewers are left to believe Saruman stays locked away forever. Actor Sir Christopher Lee, who played Saruman, was very unhappy with this and had a disagreement with director Peter Jackson, but they later resolved it before filming *The Hobbit*. While many fans were disappointed by Saruman’s reduced role, this decision actually aligned with J.R.R. Tolkien’s vision for a film adaptation of his book.

Saruman Met a Gruesome End in The Return of the King’s Extended Edition

In the extended version of *The Return of the King*, King Théoden and his forces tried to negotiate with Saruman after winning the Battle of Helm’s Deep. They believed Saruman might share information about Sauron’s plans if his life was spared, but Saruman was too stubborn to accept defeat. When it became clear Saruman wouldn’t cooperate, Théoden allowed Gríma Wormtongue to leave him.

Before Wormtongue could respond, Saruman unexpectedly struck and berated him. Enraged, Wormtongue pulled out a knife, but Legolas quickly fired an arrow, hoping to save Saruman. It was too late, however. Wormtongue fell from Orthanc, landing directly onto the sharp point of a water wheel, which pierced his body. To make matters worse, the added weight caused the wheel to spin, ultimately casting Saruman’s body into the water below.

I remember reading about Saruman’s fate in the book, and it was quite different from what I saw in the movie! In the novel, the Ents captured him for a short time, but he actually *escaped* and took over the Shire, turning it into a sort of industrial wasteland with a group of thugs. When Frodo and the other hobbits came back, they had to lead a rebellion – it was called the Scouring of the Shire – to get rid of him. It was a really key part of the story, but honestly, I can see why it didn’t translate well to film.

Adding Saruman’s death would have made *The Return of the King* even longer—it already ran almost three and a half hours. Plus, a smaller fight after the massive Battle of the Black Gate might not have felt satisfying. Director Peter Jackson moved Saruman’s death earlier in the story, but ultimately cut it from the movie because it didn’t affect the main plot. Interestingly, we know how J.R.R. Tolkien would have felt about this change, thanks to his notes on a different, earlier attempt to adapt his work.

Tolkien Believed There Was Only One Way That Saruman Should Die

In 1958, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a letter criticizing a proposed screenplay by Morton Grady Zimmerman. He strongly disliked the draft and provided extensive revisions, including how Saruman would die. Like Peter Jackson’s film, Zimmerman’s script left out the ‘Scouring of the Shire’ and had Saruman die shortly after the Battle of Helm’s Deep. While the specifics of Zimmerman’s script are lost, Tolkien argued that without the Scouring of the Shire, Saruman’s death felt pointless.

He suggested simplifying the storyline involving Saruman by having Gandalf instruct Treebeard to continue holding him captive. He even sketched out some dialogue, with Gandalf saying something like, “Since you won’t help us, you’ll remain imprisoned in Orthanc until you perish. The Ents will guard him!” Interestingly, the movie version directed by Peter Jackson features Gandalf expressing a very similar idea.

J.R.R. Tolkien died long before Peter Jackson began making the *Lord of the Rings* films, leading to much discussion about how the adaptation would differ from the books. While Tolkien likely wouldn’t have agreed with every change Jackson made, a letter suggests he would have understood the decision to cut Saruman’s death from the final version of the movie. He also recognized that some parts of the story would have to be left out to make a workable film, and he specifically hoped the Scouring of the Shire would be included. Jackson and his team faced the challenge of staying true to Tolkien’s vision while also making a film that would appeal to a wide audience and fit within a reasonable budget. Despite the necessary changes – including the removal of scenes with Ian McKellen as Saruman in *The Return of the King* – they ultimately did an impressive job of bringing Tolkien’s world to the screen.

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2025-10-10 03:36