10 Book Storylines the New Lord of the Rings Movie Could Adapt

The Lord of the Rings franchise is officially coming back with multiple new films in development that will be set within Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic fantasy world. Beginning with the animated The War of the Rohirrim and the upcoming Hunt for Gollum films, fans should expect all-new content exploring Middle-earth in the next few years.

Although fans don’t yet know what storylines the new Lord of the Rings films will adapt, there are endless possibilities. From well-known stories found in the annals of Tolkien’s anthology works to sequences left out of the books, there are many arcs that viewers could finally see play out on the big screen.

10 The Rebellion Of Morgoth Would Set The Stage For The Lord Of The Rings

Fingolfin fights a giant Morgoth surrounded by mountains in Lord of the Rings.

Trivia
Although Morgoth was defeated by the Valar and banished to the Timeless Void in the First Age, it is prophesied that he will again return to Middle-earth.

Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin and the silhouette of a hobbit from The Lord of the Rings are spliced together in a custom image.

There Was a Fifth Hobbit in Frodo’s Friend Group in The Lord of the Rings

Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin were the four main hobbits in The Lord of the Rings, but there was another important member of their social circle.

Sauron may be the big bad of the Lord of the Rings, but he is not the primary villain in Tolkien’s universe. Originally, Sauron served the dark entity Morgoth, a fallen member of the Valar who rebelled against his compatriots and sought to bring chaos to the world. It was Morgoth’s rebellion that kickstarted the endless struggle between light and dark in Middle-earth, eventually leading to the events that audiences know today.

Although viewers could just as easily jump into Lord of the Rings without knowledge of the deep lore of Middle-earth, stories like the rebellion of Morgoth help flesh out the fantasy world in greater depth. With such rich mythology underlining the story, it would be a crime for the films to ignore Tolkien’s lesser-known stories. Audiences are ready for the story that started the battle between good and evil in Middle-earth.

9 The Fall Of Gondolin Is Wonderfully Dramatic And Tragic

The city of Gondolin depicted on the cover of The Fall of Gondolin by J.R.R. Tolkien

Trivia
“The Fall of Gondolin” was originally a story found in The Silmarillion but has since been published as a standalone book.

During the war against Morgoth and his minions, King Turgon of Gondolin was forced to fight the dark lord after the location of his hidden city was betrayed by the forces of evil. What followed was an epic and bloody battle that resulted in the city’s destruction, though some residents were able to escape with their lives.

Those who loved the Battles of Helms Deep and Pelennor Fields would certainly love a story centered around the great city of Gondolin and its epic last stand. A standalone feature could depict the battle in all its glory, as massive forces clash to decide the fates of millions. An adaptation of the Fall of Gondonlin would make for one of the most epic films in modern history.

8 Beren And Lúthien Were Star-Crossed Lovers

Beren and Luthien travel together during the First Age of Middle-earth in The Silmarillion

Trivia
Aragorn references the tragedy of Beren and Lúthien in the extended edition of The Fellowship of the Ring.

The Elves prepare to leave in The Lord of the Rings

The Different Types of Elves in Lord of the Rings, Explained

The Elves of The Lord of the Rings have a long and complicated history that has spawned numerous different groups within their ranks.

The tale of Beren and Lúthien is both familiar and unique in the world of Middle-earth. The story introduces Beren, a human warrior in the First Age of Middle-earth, and the Elven princess Lúthien. Although Lúthien is immortal and Beren is but a man, the two fall in love. In a tragic twist of fate, both of the star-crossed lovers perish by the end of the story.

This tragic tale obviously foreshadows the unusual romance between Aragorn and Arwen. A story centered around the doomed lovers would make for a moving and heartbreaking film that would allow the Lord of the Rings franchise to delve into a more romantic genre.

7 The Lord Of The Rings Can Finally Include Tom Bombadil

A drawing of Tom Bombadil from Lord of the Rings

Trivia
According to The Fellowship of the Ring, Tom Bombadil is seemingly immune to the power and the allure of the One Ring.

Tom Bombadil is a mysterious character whom Frodo and his Hobbit companions encounter early in their adventure. He and his wife Goldberry take care of the company as they travel through the Old Forest and later save Frodo from the angry barrow-wight. Though famously cut from the movies, Bombadil is considered by Gandalf to be one of the oldest and most powerful creatures in all of Middle-earth, with some even speculating that he has otherworldly origins.

Although Tom Bombadil will appear in The Rings of Power Season 2, fans still want to see the character show up in Peter Jackson’s franchise after his infamous exclusion from the films. A spinoff film could explore the fun adventures of Tom Bombadil through time as he traverses Middle-earth in search of new stories and poems to tell.

6 The Sons Of The Dunédain Deserve To Have Their Story Told

Aragorn is at Amon Hen in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Trivia
“Dunédain” is literally translated as “west-men.”

Frodo, Aragorn, and Gandalf with a poster for The Lord of the Rings in the background

Everything Added to The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions

The Extended Editions of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings film trilogy are beloved by fans. Here’s a rundown of all the extra content in each movie.

The Lord of the Rings movies reveals that the Dunédain were the family of Aragorn, a race of men descended from the doomed city of Numenor who boast especially long lifespans. However, the story of the Dunédain remains mostly untold, leaving plenty of room for new films to explore.

For centuries, the Dunédain lived in the West as rangers and occasionally inspired extraordinary tales that the other good folk of Middle-earth could scarcely believe. A movie centered around these legendary figures could take on a Western theme, following the Dunédain as they travel the countryside and get involved in perilous missions.

5 The Wizards Of Middle-Earth Need To Be Fleshed Out More

Trivia
The blue wizards are never mentioned by name in either The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit film franchises. This is in part because Warner Bros. apparently does not own the rights to the characters.

Fans are intimately familiar with Gandalf the Grey and his evil counterpart, Saruman the White, in The Lord of the Rings. While some may faintly recognize Radagast the Brown, the other members of the Wizard Order are largely unknown to general audiences. Many scarcely even recognize that two blue wizards appear in neither The Lord of the Rings nor The Hobbit.

A film centered around Gandalf and the other four members of his Wizard Order early in their careers would make for a fascinating prequel. Many fans don’t realize that these wizards were originally Maiar, sent to Middle-earth by the Valar to fight the forces of evil. A prequel following these characters could delve into their cosmic origins while setting up their roles on both sides in the battles to come.

4 The Scouring Of The Shire Was Left Out Of Return Of The King

Frodo witnessing the Scouring of the Shire in Galadriel's mirror in Peter Jackson's Fellowship of the Ring.

Trivia
In the extended edition of The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo sees a vision of the Scouring of the Shire while looking into Lady Galadriel’s mirror.

The Shire is the home of the Hobbits of Middle-earth, who scarcely get involved in the matters of the Big Folk. However, in the books, the Hobbits are unwillingly dragged into the conflict against the forces of evil when Sauron’s forces attack the Shire. Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry are forced to lead their friends and families into battle against the villainous Orcs to save their homeland.

The Scouring of the Shire is entirely left out of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films and, judging by the tranquility of the Hobbits at Frodo’s return, this event never happened in the franchise’s canon. However, a new spinoff film could reveal precisely the opposite, depicting the peaceful Hobbits’ desperate defense of their ancestral home against the forces of evil.

3 The Last Alliance Of Elves And Men Ended With Sauron’s Defeat

Isildur discovers the Ring in the Fellowship of the Ring after he cuts off Sauron's hand.

Trivia
The Last Alliance of Elves and Men marks the end of the Second Age and the beginning of the Third as Sauron is defeated again, but not permanently.

Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies include flashbacks that show the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, wherein the good people of Middle-earth challenge the dark lord Sauron in Mordor. The conflict ends with Sauron’s defeat. Elrond and Isildur ascend Mount Doom with Sauron’s Ring of Power but fail to destroy the powerful weapon in the fire.

Although The Rings of Power is most likely building up to this very battle, it would be interesting to see Peter Jackson’s full take on the war that preceded Sauron’s defeat. The films hinted that this was an epic and unparalleled battle, which audiences would love to see play out in full on the big screen.

2 The Adventures Of Legolas And Gimli Would Be Lots Of Fun

Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) in Lord of the Rings

Trivia
Legolas may look young, but he is actually nearly 3,000 years old, making him more than two millennia older than his best friend, Gimli, who is 139 years old at the Council of Elrond.

The Lord of the Rings: What Was in the Far North of Middle-earth?

In Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Galadriel traveled north to one of Middle-earth’s most obscure and dangerous locations.

The Elven archer Legolas Greenleaf and the Dwarf warrior Gimli, son of Gloin, become unlikely friends during their adventures in the War of the Ring. Though their peoples are most often at odds, Legolas and Gimli come to love one another very much, putting aside their differences for a greater cause.

Despite their popularity and prominence, Legolas and Gimli’s fates aren’t explored in Return of the King, with the two warriors disappearing after Aragorn is crowned king. Audiences would love to see a spinoff film following the friends’ adventures following the War of the Ring, potentially ending with their little-known voyage into the West.

1 The Reign Of King Aragorn Would Make A Great Epilogue To The Lord Of The Rings

Trivia
J.R.R. Tolkien initially considered writing a follow-up to The Lord of the Rings starring Aragorn and Arwen’s son Eldarion but eventually scrapped the idea.

Aragorn was Isildur’s heir and the rightful king of Gondor, but very little is ever shown of his reign after defeating Sauron and claiming the crown. Devoted fans of the books know from Tolkien’s extraneous works that Aragorn was a good king, but film fans have yet to see his great works.

Twenty years after the films came out, now is the perfect time for a follow-up centered around King Aragorn as he rules over the Men of Middle-earth. Audiences want to see just how wise and mighty a king he turns out to be, and in what state he leaves Gondor for the kings who would follow him.

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is a series of epic fantasy adventure films and television series based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s novels. The films follow the adventures of humans, elves, dwarves, hobbits and more in Middle-earth.

First Film: The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
Latest Film: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
First Episode Air Date: September 1, 2022
Cast: Elijah Wood , Viggo Mortensen , Orlando Bloom , Sean Astin , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Sean Bean , Ian McKellen , Andy Serkis , Hugo Weaving , Liv Tyler , Miranda Otto , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Martin Freeman , Morfydd Clark , Ismael Cruz Cordova , Charlie Vickers , Richard Armitage
Character(s): Gollum , Sauron
Video Game(s): LEGO Lord of the Rings , Lord of the Rings Online , The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum , The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age , The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers , The Lord of the Rings: War in the North , The Lord Of The Rings: Battle For Middle-Earth , The Lord of The Rings: Battle For Middle-Earth 2 , The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Where to Stream: Max , Prime Video , Hulu