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A Unique Perspective from a Legendary Actor
A key figure from The Lord of the Rings is offering fans a glimpse into an early filmed scene that could come as a surprise. As 2026 approaches, it will mark the 25th anniversary of the release of The Fellowship of the Ring, the first film in the epic trilogy that would go on to generate billions of dollars, multiple Academy Awards, and usher in a new era of fantasy films and television series.
To commemorate this milestone, Empire Magazine gathered together Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins), Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee), Dominic Monaghan (Meriadoc Brandybuck), Billy Boyd (Peregrin Took), and Ian McKellen (Gandalf) for their March 2026 issue. This special edition celebrates The Lord of the Rings with exclusive insights into the production of the film trilogy. While the full interview will be available when the issue is published on January 15, an excerpt has revealed some intriguing details from McKellen’s experience.
A Strange Symmetry in Filming
McKellen shared his earliest filmed scenes as Gandalf, which included a strange symmetry. “On my first day I did Gandalf’s entrance into the first movie, on the horse and cart going into Hobbiton. But the next scene I did was the very last scene that Gandalf has in the third movie, where he’s setting sail and leaving everything behind, including the Hobbits, who were all on their knees to make themselves look smaller,” McKellen recalled.
He added, “I said to Peter Jackson, ‘Am I pleased to be saying goodbye, or would I be regretting it? Can you give me a quick rundown on my relationship?’ Because I didn’t know them at all! And he said, ‘Well, you’ve been on a lot of adventures and you’re very grateful to them.’ But if you look at my face in that scene, it’s absolutely blank. It’s the best thing to do: if you don’t know what to do, do nothing. I hadn’t a clue!”
This moment highlights McKellen’s incredible talent and serves as a reminder of how much risk Peter Jackson took with these films.
The Challenge of Filming Out of Sequence
It’s easy to forget just how much of a gamble The Lord of the Rings was back in 1999. At the time, it seemed like an insane idea: New Line Cinema gave relatively unknown writer/director Peter Jackson a then-record budget for not just one, but all three movies to be filmed back-to-back.
While the trilogy ultimately succeeded, had Fellowship flopped or disappointed at the box office, it’s unlikely the remaining two movies would have been released theatrically. They certainly wouldn’t have received the Extended Edition treatment or been so revered. Plus, we might never have seen The Hobbit trilogy. It’s hard to imagine such a bold move happening today.
Hearing McKellen and others discuss the experience of filming scenes from the first and third movies, with the second tossed in between, is fascinating. The stories of the trilogy’s production are legendary, but it’s still striking to realize how challenging it was.
A Celebration of a Cultural Phenomenon
The full roundtable interview will be available when Empire’sLord of the Rings anniversary issue comes out on January 15. This marks the start of a fantastic celebration for LOTR fans, showcasing how Jackson’s seemingly mad gamble paid off.
The Lord of the Rings movies are currently streaming on HBO Max. They’re also set to return to select theaters this month as part of the franchise’s ongoing anniversary celebration.