Philippa Boyens, co-writer of The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, is hinting at exciting plans for the franchise, including the possibility of a new trilogy. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary books, Peter Jackson’s original trilogy (released between 2001 and 2003) set the gold standard for fantasy films. Jackson later returned to Middle-earth with The Hobbit trilogy, but now the spotlight is shifting to fresh projects. This month, the anime film The War of the Rohirrim hits theaters, and development is underway for The Hunt for Gollum, with Jackson attached as a producer.
In a recent interview with The Playlist, Boyens, part of the creative “brain trust” overseeing the franchise alongside Jackson and Fran Walsh, shared some intriguing updates. She revealed that the team is exploring more standalone live-action projects and possibly diving deeper into anime films. Most notably, she teased the potential for an entirely new “epic” trilogy. Here’s what she had to say:
“There’s a lot of possibilities when you look at it. One of the things this [‘War Of The Rohirrim’] story has shown us is that a standalone story works really successfully within the world of Middle-earth. I’d love to see another anime because I’ve fallen in love with the form—but that depends on the audiences. If there’s an appetite for it, we’ve got more stories, some really interesting ones. And if we got really ambitious, there are epic stories that could translate into a traditional trilogy format like the original Lord of the Rings.”
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What Does This Mean for Middle-earth Fans?
It’s been 10 years since The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the last live-action movie in the franchise. That’s a long break for such a successful series, but it seems like another decade-long pause isn’t in the cards. The War of the Rohirrim is coming soon, and The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled for 2026, signaling a strong return to Tolkien’s world.
Boyens’ comments suggest the creative team is being cautious, likely waiting to see how audiences react to these two films before diving into more projects. If The War of the Rohirrim does well, more anime could be on the horizon, while The Hunt for Gollum might pave the way for new live-action adventures.
Is Middle-earth at Risk of Overload?
While more Lord of the Rings content is thrilling for fans, there’s always the danger of franchise fatigue. Overloading audiences with too much Middle-earth could dilute the magic that made Jackson’s original trilogy so beloved. Future films, even with Jackson’s involvement, face the tough task of living up to the high bar set by the original trilogy.
Still, the potential for fresh stories in Tolkien’s vast world is undeniably exciting. Whether it’s another anime, a standalone film, or a new trilogy, the journey to Middle-earth’s future is filled with possibilities. For now, all eyes are on the upcoming films to see where this epic saga goes next.
