Icons Unearthed: Lord of the Rings

J.R.R Tolkien's children's book and trilogy take the world by storm, appealing to the fans its author would least expect. After several failed attempts to adapt the books and one half-successful animated movie, an unlikely hero takes on the film deemed by many to be impossible. But just as things start to come together an infamous media mogul throws a wrench in the works.

With the clock ticking Peter Jackson has to find a studio to save his work in progress. Only one studio is willing to take the gamble on three films made at once adapting an unwanted property led by an unproven director on the other side of the world. As filming gets started, one of the cast drops out. With everything on the line, can they pull it off?

After a successful teaser at Cannes, the team races to complete the first film on time. Meanwhile filming begins to take a toll on the cast and crew. As injuries pile up, the most demanding scene in the trilogy nearly breaks them. But how the film ends is yet to be determined.

The trilogy hinges on the technological magic being developed at WETA but internal strife threatens to bring the whole thing crashing down. As the saga reaches its conclusion Peter Jackson is reluctant to let go.

The studio that backed the films takes a gamble too far. Peter Jackson struggles in vain to avoid the burden of directing. In the midst of a grueling shoot one of the dwarves is sent packing.

Peter Jackson pushes the bounds both on the page and on screen. But will audiences like what they see? A legendary chapter comes to a close leaving its mark on the film industry.