After spinning an epic and enthralling trilogy from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit novel — which recently had its conclusion in the form of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies — director Peter Jackson is understandably ready for a break from all things Tolkien. In saying that, according to the filmmaker himself, the possibility of one day revisiting the fantastical realms of Middle-earth isn’t off the cards.
The Kiwi director made the comment during an extensive interview with Variety, stating that while his work on The Hobbit and indeed Lord of the Rings is complete, he doesn’t want to close the book just yet when it comes to new films within Tolkien’s universe.
If I had to start tomorrow, I would say no, because I definitely would appreciate a break to clear my head and get my little New Zealand stories done, which is where my passion and my heart is heading now. But ask me in two or three years, and I’d probably say yes. It would be hard to see another filmmaker go into this world, because I certainly have an emotional ownership of it.
Now, this tidbit will either delight fans of Tolkien’s decorated adventures in and around Mordor or, on the other hand, be met with a general feeling of apathy. We’ve long known of Jackson’s close relationship with the source material, with Ian McKellan recently stating that he doesn’t believe that The Battle of the Five Armies “necessarily marks the end of the journey.”
Moreover, given the lucrative success of The Hobbit trilogy, it’s almost inevitable that Warner Bros. will look to expand upon Tolkien’s universe on the big screen in the vein of Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Alas, we’ll just have to wait and see whether Jackson returns to Middle-earth, er, one last time for yet more films.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is out in cinemas now. For more on Jackson’s trilogy-capper, be sure to check out our review.