Is The Lord of the Rings 4 coming? We answer the most important questions about the past and future of Middle-earth in the movies and on TV this Christmas
The Lord of the Rings adaptations by Peter Jackson are timeless masterpieces that have won a total of 17 Oscars. The trilogy is still thrilling fantasy fans 20 years after the third part premiered in cinemas. After the TV broadcasts at Christmas, many fans are wondering if and when The Lord of the Rings 4 might come and what will happen to the hobbits, elves and Sauron.
We explain for you:
When is The Lord of the Rings 4 coming?
Is there a book template for The Lord of the Rings 4?
Which other Lord of the Rings films are currently in the works?
Is The Hobbit 4 coming?
Are there any other films or series from the fantasy universe?
In what order do I watch the 6 films and 1 series?
Where can I stream the films and series?
When is The Lord of the Rings 4 coming?
The Lord of the Rings 4 is not planned. You shouldn’t expect Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films to continue with a classic fourth installment.
The reason for this is quite simple, as the trilogy tells a story with a very clear conclusion. The Lord of the Rings was planned as a trilogy from the very beginning. The completed trilogy includes:
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Is there a book template for The Lord of the Rings 4?
No, because the films are based on the novel trilogy of the same name by J.R.R. Tolkien. Just like the films, the books also form a trilogy. Even the names of the films correspond to those of the books.
Tolkien actually originally considered writing a sequel, as Screen Rant reports. However, he rejected the plan for the reason already mentioned: the plot is self-contained, most of the characters find their happy ending, Middle-earth is saved.
(The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
But there are new Lord of the Rings films in the works.
What other Lord of the Rings movies are in the works?
For those who would like to see more of Lord of the Rings, there’s good news: new films are in the works at Warner Bros. and New Line. The studio partners were already responsible for the original film adaptations and the Hobbit series.
New The Lord of the Rings movies
What the new Lord of the Rings movies will be about is not yet officially known. However, it is relatively likely that they will once again revolve around Frodo, Aragorn, Arwen and co. Warner owns the film rights for the Third Age in Middle-earth, the time in which the popular characters live.
A pure remake has been ruled out. However, it is possible that the films will expand or supplement the well-known story of the companions. A look into Aragorn’s past would be interesting, for example. There is no start date yet for the planned films.
Read more: The new The Lord of the Rings films must leave the Jackson trilogy alone
A The Lord of the Rings anime film
In addition to the movie projects, there is another film in the works that anime fans in particular should be happy about. The Lord of The Rings – The War of the Rohirrim is expected to be released in Germany on December 12, 2024
(The Lord of The Rings – The War of the Rohirrim)
The plot is set 250 years before the story of Frodo and Co. and revolves around Helm’s Deep. Remember: this is the fortress at the center of the epic battle in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The main character of the anime is Helm Hammerhand, the ninth king of Rohan.
Is The Hobbit 4 coming?
The Hobbit 4 is very unlikely. In other words: The Hobbit parts 4 to 6 already exist. After all, The Lord of the Rings film trilogy ties in with the plot of The Hobbit films. Bilbo Baggins hands over the sceptre – or rather the ring – to his nephew Frodo
The completed The Hobbit trilogy includes:
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
The Hobbit: Smaug’s Desolation (2013)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
Are there any more films or series from Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit universe?
Yes, there is a The Lord of the Rings series on Amazon Prime Video. If you can’t wait until the new Lord of the Rings films are released, you can fill the gap with The Rings of Power. Season 1 is available to stream in its entirety, season 2 is in the works and is set to follow in the second half of 2024.
The Rings of Power is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and is set in an earlier age. It is based on several books by J.R.R. Tolkien.
(The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power)
Although the story takes place at least a thousand years before the companions set off for Mount Doom, some characters return. These include, for example, the Elf Galadriel, who is also the protagonist of the series.
In what order do you watch The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Rings of Power?
The order of release of the films and the series was exactly wrong. If you want to see The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Rings of Power in chronological order, this is the correct order:
Series: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Film: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Movie: The Hobbit: Smaug’s Wasteland
Film: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings
Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
If you’re planning a long binge weekend in Middle-earth, we recommend you start with the Amazon series The Rings of Power. It is set in the Second Age, long before the Hobbit adventures of Bilbo and Frodo.
This is followed by The Hobbit trilogy, which tells the story of Bilbo Baggins’ adventures. It is set in the Third Age, just like The Lord of the Rings. At the very beginning of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Bilbo gives the ring to his nephew Frodo and begins his epic adventure.
Even more Middle-earth: The Lord of the Rings was filmed before Peter Jackson
Where can I stream The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Rings of Power?
You can stream all the films and the fantasy adventure series on Amazon Prime Video. The ultimate The Lord of the Rings universe is being planned there:
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on Amazon Prime Video
The Hobbit: Smaug’s Wasteland on Amazon Prime Video
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies on Amazon Prime Video
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring on Amazon Prime Video
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers on Amazon Prime Video
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on Amazon Prime Video
You can’t complete this binge marathon in a single day, by the way, as it takes more than 26 hours in total
