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Why a Lord of the Rings Sequel Trilogy Would Be a Disaster But Could End Epicly

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It seems that the world of “The Lord of the Rings” is being explored further on the big screen. After the animated “The War of the Rohirrim”, Warner Bros. is delving deeper into Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth with the upcoming “The Hunt for Gollum”. If Hollywood sees potential in these fragments of Tolkien’s timeline, it would be quite unexpected if a direct sequel to “The Lord of the Rings” wasn’t at least being contemplated.

Discussing Tolkien’s reluctance and the legal complexities involved, it’s clear that a sequel trilogy for “The Lord of the Rings” is not ideal. Yet, with Hollywood’s appetite for intellectual properties, the possibility seems increasingly likely. The end of “The Return of the King” hinted at the descendants of Aragorn and Arwen, and the scarcity of Fourth Age material could provide filmmakers an alluringly empty canvas. Regrettably, any continuation of “The Lord of the Rings” essentially has just one narrative left to explore.

Why The Lord Of The Rings Can’t Adapt What Happened Straight After The Third Movie

The Scouring Of The Shire & Aragorn’s Reunification Campaign

Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lord of the Rings trilogy did not include many events that occurred after Aragorn’s coronation. The entire Scouring of the Shire arc, where the Fellowship’s four hobbits fought to reclaim their home from a weakened Saruman, was left out, leaving audiences with just a glimpse of Aragorn’s reign over the Reunited Kingdom. In reality, Aragorn had a busy and eventful rule following the War of the Ring, working tirelessly to mend the realms of Men that had been torn apart by Sauron. This mission involved suppressing pockets of evil still lingering in Middle-earth, such as the men who fought under Sauron’s command.

It might seem like making Viggo Mortensen reprise his role as an older Aragorn fighting epic battles similar to those in “The Two Towers” and “The Return of the King” could form a basis for a sequel to “Lord of the Rings”. Adding in Frodo’s group confronting Saruman in the Shire might strengthen this idea. Regrettably, such stories would not have enough substance to fill even one movie, let alone an entire trilogy.

From my perspective, one could argue that Gollum’s upcoming film might share some similarities, but The Scouring of the Shire serves as a concluding chapter, with Saruman reduced to a mere echo of the powerful wizard he once was, perched atop Orthanc. As for Aragorn, his role seems to be primarily focused on eliminating orcs and pirates, an endeavor that lacks significant opposition or obstacles in comparison to his previous feats.

In simpler terms, the movie about Gollum adds a significant piece to the larger story of Sauron’s One Ring, unlike any tale set in the Shire or Reunited Kingdom following The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien himself admitted that such stories, particularly those involving Aragorn, would not be as engaging because they wouldn’t have much excitement beyond the defeat of Sauron. He wrote, “There would be no tales worth retelling after the King’s Peace; and his wars would hold little interest following the overthrow of Sauron.

The Least-Worst Option For A New Lord Of The Rings Trilogy Would Be Adapting Tolkien’s Abandoned Sequel

At Least Tolkien Entertained The Idea At One Time

J.R.R. Tolkien didn’t seem overly excited about exploring Aragorn’s reign orally, and he made a comparable statement regarding “_The New Shadow_,” an unfinished sequel set in the Fourth Age that he eventually deemed as not worth pursuing. However, the fact that Tolkien started delving into this area hints at where any potential future _The Lord of the Rings_ sequel trilogy might discover the richest ideas.

As a devoted cinephile diving into Middle-earth’s lore, I find myself intrigued by “The New Shadow,” a hypothetical narrative set in the aftermath of Aragorn’s demise, centuries beyond the conclusion of The Lord of the Rings. In their overconfidence, the people of Middle-earth would start meddling with shadows and hatching plans to disturb the tranquility that was earned through such great sacrifice. It would then fall upon the descendants of Aragorn and Arwen – the new heroes – to safeguard this peace.

Tolkien himself confessed that he could have woven a tale of conspiracy around this premise, but it seems rather unworthy of an epic trilogy at first glance. However, by filling in the blanks and pushing “The New Shadow” to its natural endpoints, I can start to discern some potential for adaptation.

In “The New Shadow,” the antagonists would have been a widespread cult dedicated to Morgoth, the superior power behind Sauron and the principal villain in Tolkien’s lore. Though Sauron is widely known, his might is insignificant compared to Morgoth’s. Unlike Sauron, who was completely vanquished after Frodo destroyed the Ring, Morgoth, having lost the great war at the end of Middle-earth’s First Age, was banished through the Door of Night, indicating his defeat wasn’t absolute.

In “The New Shadow,” men of Middle-earth are given an opportunity, albeit dangerous, to trigger their own destruction by resurrecting Morgoth using the Door of Night. This act would not only escalate the threat level beyond what was experienced in “The Lord of the Rings,” but it would also set the stage for a new trilogy, where the free peoples would be confronted with an even greater peril.

Considering a sequel trilogy for “Lord of the Rings,” grounded in Tolkien’s unfinished fourth book, and featuring Morgoth as the principal antagonist, is indeed an idea that might not reach the heights of the initial films’ greatness. Nevertheless, it’s one of the less problematic alternatives and does manage to maintain a tenuous connection with the original literary source material, symbolized by a small part of a hairy hobbit’s foot.

A Lord Of The Rings Sequel Trilogy Could End With Middle-earth’s Biggest Battle

A Battle That Would Top Even The Return Of The King

In a hypothetical sequel trilogy to “Lord of the Rings,” the first film could be titled “The Lord of the Rings: The New Shadow.” If this were the case, the final movie might be called “The Lord of the Rings: Battle Beyond Battles.” The Dagor Dagorath, which means “Battle of all Battles,” is a prophecy from J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings that was initially left out of The Silmarillion. This prophecy foretells a time when Morgoth will return, trying to reclaim his dominion over Middle-earth through the Door of Night. The battle that ensues would surpass any conflict from the First Age’s War of Wrath, as the forces of good and evil collide for one final, cataclysmic clash.

Transitioning from “The New Shadow” to the Dagor Dagorath doesn’t align perfectly with Tolkien’s original concept, as the final battle was intended to occur much later, post-Fourth Age. However, the ominous prophecy does establish a canonical basis for Morgoth’s potential return. Notably, creating a movie based on the Dagor Dagorath would mean adapting a conflict that Tolkien himself envisioned, rather than straying too far from his planned narrative. Fortunately, the sense of finality in the Dagor Dagorath would also put an end to the possibility of endless movie trilogies in the future.

A standalone film based on the “Dagor Dagorath” from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” series would surpass the scale of the Battle of Pelennor Fields seen in “The Return of the King.” This hypothetical movie would bring back long-lost legends, awaken ancient creatures, prompt the Valar to intervene, and signal the end of Tolkien’s timeline as Middle-earth’s very terrain is transformed. While creating a sequel trilogy for “The Lord of the Rings” might not be the best idea, experiencing the Dagor Dagorath on the big screen would undeniably be a grand spectacle befitting the franchise.

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2025-06-01 21:09

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