In this episode, we examine the insertion of Boromir’s ring-handling scene on the slopes of the Misty Mountains–though it was completely invented, how close was it REALLY to the books? … and THEN we discuss Peter Jackson’s NEXT Lord of the Rings films, this time written by Stephen Colbert! 😬

We look at:

• Boromir’s believable corruption
• How much of this scene was actually pulled straight from the book?
• Will this be a movie we want, or just another exercise in fan-service?
• Will the film really just be a flashback?

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• Is the word “simple” the most important part of Boromir’s statement?
• And how necessary were Merry and Pippin at the council?
• How much of Colbert’s ideology will be in the new film?
• Other opportunities for films around the time of The War of the Ring

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Join our Discord Community (for free)
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Get the Extended Podcast
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

In this episode, we dig into two crucial scenes: the iconic formation of the Fellowship and the bridge-side tryst between Aragorn and Arwen. Drawing from both book and film, we examine what’s gained (and lost) when Tolkien’s deep lore is streamlined for cinema.

We also look at:

• Who actually attended the Council of Elrond
• Boromir’s famous “Gondor has no king” line—book vs. film debate
• Why Gimli’s axe-to-the-ring moment feels out of place
• How Arwen and Aragorn’s romance changes when moved from appendix to film
• The effects of missing characters like Bilbo and Glorfindel

Become a member at https://theonering.com/members or https://theonering.com/patreon to hear our thoughts on:

• Listener questions: Is Lurtz a good addition—or does he rob Aragorn of a key moment?
• The origins of the Uruk-hai – sci-fi or fantasy?
• How “meat’s back on the menu” could’ve been more lore friendly
• The looming Hunt for Gollum trilogy—how much story is really there?
• How an Aragorn biopic could finally do the ranger justice

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. You can also join for $5 a month on Patreon

🔗 Episode Links
Join our Discord Community (for free)
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Become a Patreon Member
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Spotify

🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat

Here’s another episode in our series of interviews from the December 2, 2003 roundtable discussions! In this interview–just before The Return of the King was released–Sean Astin reflects on wrapping up The Lord of the Rings films and the impact they had on his career, his perspective on playing Sam, and how he navigated fame and family life during the trilogy’s success.

He also discusses:

• Why Astin sees Sam’s cinematic arc as more heroic than the book’s version
• The struggle to balance being “strong” on screen with being a faithful hobbit
• Sword training with a Star Wars legend—and why it didn’t make the cut
• What “the Shire” means to Sean Astin personally—and where he finds his own ideal home (again!)

In our extended episode (for members at https://theonering.com/members):

• How you can beta test the new Exploring Tolkien app and help shape its future

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!

BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!

🔗 Episode Links
Submit a LOTR Film Change

🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!