Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
After 25 years, The Lord of the Rings is marching back onto the big screen.
A new theatrical journey back to Middle-earth is on the way, as Peter Jackson’s full Extended Editions of The Lord of the Rings trilogy head to U.S. cinemas next year.
The nationwide rollout marks 25 years since The Fellowship of the Ring first premiered.
Fans will have multiple opportunities to see the marathon-length films on the big screen, but not all at once.
Anniversary event
Fathom Entertainment announced a two-weekend showcase, with DBOX screenings scheduled for January 16–18, followed by standard presentations from January 23–25.
The company confirmed that all three films will screen separately across each weekend to keep audiences from attempting a full 12-hour run in a single sitting.
Jackson’s extended cuts push the already lengthy trilogy even further. The Return of the King alone stretches close to four and a half hours with credits, making it one of the longest mainstream releases ever shown in theaters.
Epic runtimes
According to Fathom, the full Extended Edition timings are:
- The Fellowship of the Ring: 3h 48m (228 minutes)
- The Two Towers: 3h 55m (235 minutes)
- The Return of the King: 4h 23m (263 minutes)
Variety reported that participating theater chains will roll out commemorative merchandise, with AMC offering a Middle-earth map popcorn bucket and Regal distributing a design inspired by the One Ring.
New film on the way
This re-release comes as Warner Bros. currently in the process of being acquired by Netflix, prepares a new feature for 2027.
The Hunt for Gollum will explore the period between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, following multiple characters racing to uncover the Ring’s whereabouts.
The story touches on moments briefly referenced in The Fellowship of the Ring, including the torture of Gollum in Mordor, where the words “Baggins” and “Shire” are forced from him.
The project also raises questions about digital de-aging, as actors revisit roles more than two decades after the original trilogy.
Andy Serkis, who will direct and star, is the only confirmed cast member so far. Viggo Mortensen and Elijah Wood have both expressed openness to returning, while Orlando Bloom previously suggested “AI would have to come into play” for him to reprise Legolas.
Filming is expected to begin in New Zealand next year, ahead of the planned December 17, 2027 release.
Sources: IGN Nordic, variety, Movieweb, The Direct
