LIFE celebrates the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings with this deluxe collector’s edition. Learn the true story behind the pioneering novels The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, all written by Oxford professor and WWI veteran J.R.R. Tolkien. Then go behind the scenes of all six of director Peter Jackson’s movies, with deep reporting and stunning images, from transporting vistas to epic battles. This gorgeous volume showcases the fantasy epic’s most-loved characters and the stars who brought them to life, including hobbits Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin), valiant Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), elves Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), and sage wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen). Learn how the filmmakers used revolutionary special effects to capture the unforgettable Gollum (Andy Serkis) and fearsome Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch), and find out the secrets behind the breathtaking siege at Helm’s Deep, one of the most impressive action sequences ever committed to film. From the early animated adaptations of Tolkien’s novels to the upcoming Amazon TV series, the book touches it all. A perfect keepsake!
The Lord of the Rings
THE REACH OF THE RINGS • One sprawling tale about humble hobbits doing remarkable deeds captured the imagination of a generation and legitimized an entire genre. Its influence is still being felt today.
ARCHITECT OF ARGOT • When it came to inventing worlds, Tolkien didn’t stop at fanciful lands and wondrous beasts—he also devised entirely new languages.
THE FILMS • It was an unprecedented gamble: turning four books into six massive movies at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. Even Tolkien’s descendants had doubts—but the filmmakers set out to prove them wrong.
THE FELLOWSHIP’S PRIMARY PLAYERS • A sprawling saga with a cast of unforgettable characters—here are the key faces and names introduced in the first film.
The Fellowship of the Ring
PART TWO’S NEW CREW • The second Rings movie introduces a fresh foe and four warriors intent on stopping Sauron’s insidious intentions.
THE SECRETS OF HELM’S DEEP • It has been called the greatest battle ever committed to film. Here’s how the filmmakers pulled off such a spectacular siege.
THE TWO TOWERS
The Return of the King
DRAWN TOGETHER • Peter Jackson isn’t the only storyteller to bring Tolkien to the screen. Animators attracted by the rich visual potential of the novels got there first.
BEAST IN SHOW • In creating the dragon Smaug, visual-effects magicians faced a daunting task: realizing one of the most iconic villains in all of fantasy literature.
PHOTO CREDITS
COLUMN ONT HE GO
Experience the Stories of a Lifetime
WORLD OF INSPIRATION • From J.R.R. Tolkien’s mind and then through Peter Jackson’s lens, The Lord of the Rings tells a dazzling story of a world far beyond our own, rich with mythology and invented languages, a place of fantastic thrills where the smallest and most humble can be heroes.
