Summary
- Extended edition of The Fellowship of the Ring offers additional character development and scenes.
- Extended scenes provide essential context and contribute to the film being one of the best in the franchise.
- Additional scenes include more backstory, character interactions, and lore crucial for fans of the series.
The Lord of the Rings extended editions are known for their hefty additions to the trilogy’s runtime, with several entire scenes being added in The Fellowship of the Ring. Fellowship is the first film in the trilogy and the first movie in the order of viewing The Lord of the Rings franchise. It’s essential to understand the world of Middle-earth, the lore of the One Ring, and the characters that will be developed throughout the saga. The extended edition was released in 2002, adding 30 minutes of runtime to the endeavor just half a year after the movie was initially released in theaters.
The extended edition adds scenes featuring conversations between key characters, such as Aragorn, Boromir, Elrond, and many more, expanding on their development throughout the series. It also expands the length of some of the film’s most iconic moments, including the introduction to the Shire, the Council of Elrond, and the battle in Moria. Altogether, any fan of the franchise should undoubtedly check out the extended cuts of each film at some point. As for Fellowship, the extended scenes contribute to it being one of the best movies in The Lord of the Rings franchise.
17 The Introduction Scene
Isildur Has Some Extra Action Footage
Starting right off at the beginning, one of the easiest things to note is that the title card for The Fellowship of the Ring differs between the theatrical and the extended cut, with the words showing up in Bilbo’s house in the latter. In the extended cut, the scene of Isildur’s death and loss of the ring is also expanded, showing him falling from his horse, crawling into the river, and being shot dead in the back. In the theatrical, he’s only shown dead, drifting in the water, after the ambush begins.
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16 Concerning Hobbits
Bilbo Has Extra Narration
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The extended edition changes much of the introductory Shire scene, beginning with the addition of Bilbo’s narration, in which he describes the lifestyle of the hobbits as pertaining to his book. Following this initial sequence, there are multiple additions to Frodo and Gandalf traveling through the Shire. Most of the change to Frodo and Gandalf’s dialogue is very brief, but there are some additional lines in the extended cut. In the extended edition, this scene intercuts with Bilbo anxiously examining his map of Middle-earth and the One Ring.
15 Bilbo & Frodo Hide From The Sackville-Bagginses
Bilbo & Frodo Have A Touching Moment
At the birthday party, there is an additional scene with Bilbo and Frodo in the extended edition. First, Bilbo has a conversation with Mrs. Bracegirdle. Then, he sees the Sackville-Bagginses, his relatives that he despises, and he grabs Frodo to hide from them behind a curtain. Bilbo and Frodo then have a brief, tender scene where Bilbo shares with his nephew that he adopted him because he sees him as a worthy heir, not just because he felt like he had to.
14 Frodo & Sam At The Green Dragon
The Shire Receives Some Additional Context
Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin’s scene at the pub has additional time in the extended version. In it, there are two older hobbits who discuss strange creatures wandering around the Shire, and they suggest that war might be upon them. They discuss Bilbo being a strange hobbit and how they believe they’ll be spared since the Shire would be neutral in a hypothetical war. The scene also details a bit more of Sam’s relationship with Rosie, his love interest.
13 Frodo & Sam See Elves Leaving Middle-earth
Frodo & Sam See Elves For The First Time
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It also introduces the idea of the elves leaving Middle-earth via the Grey Havens.
Early in Frodo & Sam’s travels, there’s a deleted scene where they rest on a tree, with Sam cooking by the fire. In the brief scene, they see glowing wood elves traveling down the path near them. A notable quality of Sam, especially in the books, is that he’s fascinated by the elves, so he’s excited to see them here. It also introduces the idea of the elves leaving Middle-earth via the Grey Havens.
12 Bree To Rivendell
Aragorn Sings The Song Of Beren And Lúthien
There are several brief changes to the hobbits’ time in Bree and the subsequent scenes on their path to Rivendell. In the extended version, they have longer encounters with the gatekeeper and Barliman Butterbur, the owner of the Prancing Pony Inn. After leaving Bree, the hobbits discuss for a prolonged scene about whether they can trust Aragorn. Later, there’s an added scene where Aragorn sings an elvish song about Lúthien to the hobbits. The last additional moment adds to Sam talking to Frodo about Bilbo’s stone trolls.
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11 Aragorn & Boromir Meet
Aragorn & Boromir Have A Tense Dialogue
In the theatrical cut, Aragorn and Boromir see each other as Boromir studies the painting and sword of Elendil. Aragorn eyes him while reading a book. In the extended edition, they have a brief scene where Aragorn introduces himself as a friend of Gandalf. Boromir calls him “friend,” as they’re at Rivendell for the same reason, but there’s notable tension between them.
10 Gandalf Talks In The Black Speech At The Council
Gandalf Demonstrates The Threat Of Mordor To The Council Of Elrond
Gandalf responds by standing and booming words in the Black Speech of Mordor, causing the sky to grow dark around them.
An additional minute of footage is added to the assembly of the Council of Elrond in the extended edition. In that minute, Boromir makes a statement, saying that he’d had a vision of saving the world. He walks toward the Ring, implying it is part of his vision. Gandalf responds by standing and booming words in the Black Speech of Mordor, causing the sky to grow dark around them. Elrond reprimands Gandalf for this, but the wizard warns the council that the language will dominate the world if they do not act.
9 Aragorn & Elrond Speek
Elrond Tells Aragorn The Elves Can Reforge Narsil
One of the most important of the Lord of the Rings extended edition added scenes sees Aragorn and Elrond speaking at Rivendell. Elrond finds Aragorn by a statue of a woman, which is revealed to be Aragorn’s mother. Crucially, this scene explains that Elrond and the elves are capable of reforging Narsil, the blade that was broken. This foreshadows the moment of its reforging in The Return of the King. In the scene, Aragorn explains that he doesn’t want the power of kings and that he never did. Elrond tells him that there is no other who could claim it, reminding Aragorn of his destiny.
8 The Fellowship Departs From Rivendell
Elrond Makes A Speech To The Fellowship
In another additional scene, Elrond makes a speech to the Ringbearer and the Fellowship before they depart from Rivendell. In this scene, Gandalf beckons Frodo to make the first step as the company’s champion, and Frodo turns to Gandalf quietly, asking him for directions. Aragorn and Arwen exchange prolonged glances, silently bidding each other farewell.
7 The Road To Moria
The Fellowship Share Additional Dialogue
There are several scenes leading up to entering Moria that have slight alterations. The scene of Merry and Pippin playing with Boromir also involves Aragorn being knocked to the floor in the extended cut. Frodo and Gandalf have a discussion about Frodo’s wound and the ring as they approach Moria. Lastly, the scene outside the door of Moria is extended with added moments of dialogue from various characters.
6 Exploring Moria
Moria Gets More Exposition
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The extended edition of the film has 75 extra seconds of traveling through the Mines of Moria, mostly filled with exposition about the history of Moria and their mining of mithril. Frodo and Gandalf’s discussion about Gollum is longer in the extended cut. The last change is in the battle scene with the cave troll, which is slightly longer in the extended edition.
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5 The Woods Of Lothlórien
Gimli And Haldir Get Off To A Bad Start
Upon arriving in Lothlórien, there are several notable differences. Two minutes of time were added to the extended edition, but it also removed a 30-second exchange between Aragorn and Haldir. In those two minutes, there’s some additional conflict between Gimli and Haldir, demonstrating the hostility between dwarves and elves.
4 Meeting Galadriel
Galadriel Has More Moments With Individual Fellowship Members
There’s over a minute of extra footage in the extended editions during the scene between Galadriel and the Fellowship. The bulk of the additional content sees Legolas explaining Gandalf’s fate to the other elves. Galadriel has some brief moments with members of the Fellowship, consoling Gimli and giving Boromir a cold glance. Following that scene, the elves’ Lament for Gandalf is extended, intercutting some moments with various characters.
3 Galadriel’s Gifts
More Of The Elves’ Gifts Are Explained
Before their exit from Lothlórien, Galadriel offers gifts to members of the Fellowship. In the theatrical cut, practically all viewers witness is Frodo’s gift. In the extended edition, they’re all given elven cloaks with their brooches, Lembas bread, and more. All of this comes into play in later movies, making it an important deletion. Gimli also has a touching scene where he asks Galadriel for a strand of her hair. Aragorn has a conversation with Galadriel about Arwen and speaks to Haldir about the orc movements in the area.
2 Aragorn & Boromir Discuss Gondor
Gollum Briefly Reappears In The River
The last entire deleted scene in The Fellowship of the Ring’s extended edition is the Fellowship camping out at night by the river. Importantly, this scene shows Gollum for a second time in the film, as Boromir spots him swimming alongside a tree log. Aragorn informs him that Gollum has been following them. There’s a brief moment of Sam trying to cheer up Frodo; then it’s back to Aragorn and Boromir. Boromir tries to sway Aragorn into the idea of the party traveling to Minas Tirith again, and they exchange some unpleasantries after Aragorn refuses the idea.
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1 Battle At Amon Hen
The Extended Cut Adds To The Action
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The Battle at Amon Hen is one of the best Lord of the Rings battles, and it’s bolstered by some additional moments in the extended edition. There are several brief changes to the action, including Merry and Pippin helping Boromir by throwing rocks at the orcs and Legolas shooting down six orcs in one camera shot. Lastly, Aragorn makes a final closing statement following Boromir’s death that’s not in the theatrical cut, stating: “They will look for his coming from the White Tower. But he will not return,” adding to the heartbreaking Lord of the Rings moment.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first film in Peter Jackson’s critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings trilogy. The movie follows Frodo Baggins (Elijah Woods) as he is tasked with destroying the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom after he inherits the ring.
Director Peter Jackson Release Date December 19, 2001 Cast Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Liv Tyler , Viggo Mortensen , Sean Astin , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Orlando Bloom , Christopher Lee , Hugo Weaving , Sean Bean , Ian Holm , Andy Serkis Runtime 178 Minutes Expand