20 fascinating facts about Lord of The Rings movies you probably didn't know

Published Jan 27, 2025 10:21 ET

The Lord of the Rings (Image via New Line Cinema and WingNut Films)

16) Saruman’s fall was too violent

Christopher Lee filmed a death scene for Saruman that involved him being impaled on a spiked wheel after falling from Orthanc. The scene was graphic and unsettling, which led Peter Jackson to cut it from The Return of the King. Instead, Saruman’s death was only shown in the film's extended edition. The decision to tone down the scene kept the theatrical release focused on other parts of the story. It also showed how editing choices balanced the tone of the trilogy for broader audiences.