Peter Jackson’s films, the J.R.R. Tolkien trilogy, was once considered unadaptable before it was released. The epic fantasy, featuring battles, landscapes, and iconic characters like Ian McKellen as Gandalf, almost didn’t happen due to its dense literary source, an unknown director, hesitant studios, and massive production requirements. Despite the odds, the project aligned perfectly for one of cinema’s defining moments. Tolkien’s adaptation had many failed attempts in the past, including Ralph Bakshi’s.
