'My Precious' from a Hagraven
During 'A Night to Remember', a hagraven named Moira mutters 'my precious' while trying to hold onto a wedding ring the player needs, a direct callback to Gollum's obsession with the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Knowledge
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Smigole Serkis and His Precious Spoon
Somewhere in Blood and Wine there's a note written by a character called Smigole Serkis, mourning the loss of his beloved golden spoon. It's a two-for-one joke, poking fun at both Gollum's alter ego Smeagol and Andy Serkis, the actor who brought him to life.
One Giant 14-Month Shoot
Jackson didn't make these films back to back like a normal trilogy. All three were shot as one continuous production in New Zealand, running for about 14 months, so nothing had to be rebuilt or recast between films.
The Biggest Prop Ever Built
The dead oliphaunt used in the film is, on record, the largest movie prop ever constructed. Peter Jackson apparently still thought it wasn't big enough.
Real Soldiers, Broken Props
For the Battle of the Black Gate, the crew needed so many extras they brought in members of the New Zealand Armed Forces. Turns out real soldiers get a little too into a fake battle, and they ended up snapping a lot of the prop weapons.
A Safety Handle for Faramir's Horse
When Faramir gets dragged back to Minas Tirith by his spooked horse, the crew were nervous enough that they rigged a custom release into the saddle. David Wenham held a handle so he could free himself if the horse bolted for real, though he never had to use it.
Two Rings, Two Believers
After the trilogy wrapped, Peter Jackson gifted a One Ring prop to both Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis, and each of them genuinely believed his was the only one out there. Sorry to break it to you two, but you were both had.
Jackson's Own Spider Phobia Built Shelob
Peter Jackson is genuinely terrified of spiders, and he leaned right into it when designing Shelob. Every detail people find most unsettling about her, the fangs, the size, the way she moves, comes from what actually scares him.
Wrap Gifts That Meant Something
On the last day of shooting, the cast were handed keepsakes tied to their characters. Miranda Otto got Eowyn's dress and sword, Liv Tyler took home Arwen's dying dress, and Orlando Bloom walked away with one of Legolas's bows.
Gimli Was the Tallest Fellowship Member
It sounds backwards, but John Rhys-Davies, the man playing the dwarf, was actually the tallest actor among the nine members of the Fellowship. Every trick in the camera book went into making him look like the shortest.