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Just as Frodo Baggins seems too small in stature to carry such a heavy ring, director Peter Jackson was an odd choice to helm The Lord of the Rings, one of the most complex and well-loved fantasy tales in the world. Most of Jackson’s early oeuvre was comprised of horror and comedy, including Bad Taste and Braindead (released in North America as Dead Alive).

With partner and co-writer Fran Walsh, he created the art house classic Heavenly Creatures, about two teenage girls who commit murder out of their unhealthy attachment to each other. His next project was a mockumentary called Forgotten Silver, leading to a War of the Worlds-style prank in which film goers were led to believe that the story was real.

After these successes, Peter Jackson was welcomed into Hollywood with open arms. His dream was to adapt The Lord of the Rings to the big screen. Originally he petitioned Miramax, who said they’d buy it if he could condense it all into two films instead of three. He agreed, but gradually began to feel pressured to make the two films one - an impossible task while maintaining the heart of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work. He pitched the original Miramax deal to New Line, who accepted on the condition that he expand it back to three films. Jackson was elated.

And so the legend began - a four-year saga from the time he obtained the rights to the time filming was wrapped, and worth every minute. Jackson won the coveted Best Director at the Oscars, and the final film in the trilogy, The Return of the King, was Best Picture.

Peter Jackson may have been the Frodo of Hollywood, but he never lost sight of his important mission to carry the One Ring safely to the end. Match your wits and taste the trilogy with some Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King social trivia. If you are in the mood, you could also play across several Peter Jackson movies.

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