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The Lord of the Rings

Read up on the latest The Lord of the Rings franchise News, Reviews and Features from the team at CBR.

The Lord of the Rings Franchise Poster
The Lord of the Rings

Created by
J.R.R. Tolkien
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

Summary

The Lord of the Rings is a long-running fantasy franchise created by J.R.R. Tolkien. The core series consists of four primary books: The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, the Two Towers, and The Return of the King, all of which have been adapted into films. The Lord of the Rings core franchise centers around Frodo Baggins, a living being known as a hobbit, and a group of heroes from the various kingdoms such as the kingdom of man, the kingdom of dwarves, and the kingdom of elves. Together with the great wizard Gandalf, the group will embark on a perilous quest across Middle Earth to take The One Ring to Mount Doom to destroy it, before it can corrupt anyone and return to the hands of the evil entity known as Sauron, hellbent on conquering all of Middle Earth. The original novel/prequel films, The Hobbit, stars Frodo's uncle Bilbo Baggins as he embarks on a quest from the comfort of his home and seeks the treasure of a dragon known as Smaug. Bilbo stumbles upon The One Ring on his quest, and finds himself amidst a great war. The most recent media for the franchise is the currently airing The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, airing exclusively on Prime Video.

latest

Gandalf the White illuminated against a forest backdrop featuring Legolas 1
How Did Gandalf Return in Lord of the Rings - And Who Resurrected Him?

After fighting the Balrog in The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf the Grey succumbed to his wounds and died, so who resurrected the wizard and why?

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum art with Gollum on a rock looking towards the Eye of Sauron 1
Lord of the Rings: Gollum Gets New Report Containing Troubling Developer Allegations

A new report claims that Lord of the Rings: Gollum's developer Daedalic, and publisher, Nacon, treated workers poorly and used unethical practices.

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Saruman May Have Invented Middle-earth's Gunpowder

Medieval weaponry and magic have been Middle-earth's go-to instruments of war, but Saurman might have introduced gunpowder into The Lord of the Rings.

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Collage image of Arwen, Gandalf and Legolas in The Lord of the Rings 1
How World War 1 Influenced J R R Tolkien's Work

The Lord of the Rings was written as a fantasy book, but J.R.R. Tolkien's work was influenced by real-life experiences from his time in World War 1.

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From The Lord of the Rings, Sauron alongside the king of the Army of the Dead. 1
Why Aragorn Didn't Use the Army of the Dead Against Sauron in Lord of the Rings

In The Lord of the Rings films, Aragorn could have unleashed the Army of the Dead against Mordor, but he chose not to. Here's why.

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The Fellowship is assembled in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 1
The Lord of the Rings Cast and Character Guide

The Lord of the Rings Films were shot over twenty years ago and the cast continues to remain one of the greatest in the fantasy genre.

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Morgoth and the Two Trees 1
15 Most Important Events Of The First Age In The Rings Of Power

The First Age holds many historically significant and relevant events in the history of Arda.

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Collage of Elijah Wood as Frodo at different points in The Lord of the Rings 1
A Lord of the Rings Interview Reveals Elijah Wood's Unusual Audition For Frodo

Elijah Wood played Frodo in The Lord of the Rings. While his hard work paid off during filming, he also went the extra mile before he had the part.

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Private Division Announces Cozy Hobbit-Centric The Lord of the Rings Game

Private Division unveils a trailer for the upcoming Tales of the Shire, a cozy and hobbit-centric The Lord of the Rings video game.

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Ahsoka Has Officially Become Star Wars' Gandalf The White

The fifth episode of Ahsoka turns the former Jedi into Star Wars' own version of Gandalf the White--and it means big things for the character.

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Lord of the Rings Inspired One the Greatest Rock Bands in History

Lord of the Rings is one of the most influential pieces of literature to date. In the late 60's it inspired Led Zeppelin to write some iconic songs.

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Harry Potter Stole a Move From Lord of the Rings - and It Failed 1
Warner Bros. CEO Believes Harry Potter & Lord of the Rings Franchises Are 'Underused'

Warner Bros. Discovery head David Zaslav insists relying even more heavily on their biggest IPs is the surest path to the studio's success.

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Radagast the Brown and Gandalf the Grey walking through the forest in The Hobbit 1
Lord of the Rings: Ian McKellen Hopes the Actors Who Turned Down Gandalf 'Feel Silly'

The Lord of the Rings star Ian McKellen looks back on all the actors who turned down the role of Gandalf and wonders if they're kicking themselves.

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The Lord of the Rings Heroes of Middle-earth Haradrim key image 1
INTERVIEW: The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth Producer Tim Lander Discusses the Haradrim

The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth producer Tim Lander spoke with CBR about the game's new Haradrim characters and their history.

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What Was Weathertop Before The Lord of the Rings? 1
Lord of the Rings: What Were the 7 Gates of Gondolin, Middle-Earth's Greatest Elven City?

Middle-earth's greatest elven city, Gondolin, was known for more than just its destruction. The Hidden City was also home to seven gates.

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Lord of the Rings' Most Terrifying Creature Wasn't Smaug - It Was Much Bigger 1
Lord of the Rings' Most Terrifying Creature Wasn't Smaug - It Was Much Bigger

Despite Smaug's terrifying size, the dragon was not even close to being the largest creature ever to roam Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings.

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Halbrand Is Sauron Rings of Power 1
A Rings of Power Theory Suggests Sauron Isn't Who You Think He Is

While Rings of Power revealed Halbrand to be Sauron, some Lord of the Rigs fans aren't convinced that's the whole truth.

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The Long History of Books Influencing Video Games

The fusion of literature and gaming crafts rich narratives, offering players immersive experiences and a fresh perspective on beloved stories.

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A Cut Lord of the Rings Scene Almost Turned Frodo Into Gollum 1
A Cut Lord of the Rings Scene Almost Turned Frodo Into Gollum

The Lord of the Rings films almost included a dark flash of Frodo's fate if the One Ring broke him, complete with his own Gollum form.

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Merry, Frodo, Sam and Pippin should to shoulder in The Lord of the Rings 1
Merry and Pippin Were Always Meant to Be Lord of the Rings Heroes

Merry and Pippin just as much earn the title of hero as the rest of the Fellowship does in The Lord of the Rings. Here's why.

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