Christopher Lee cut from the upcoming "Lord of the rings" movie!

[Neville]

Now this is outrageous! I want whoever had the idea tared and feathered!

Cut and pasted from today's (November 13th) news at IMDB:

"Christopher Lee Cut from 'Return of the King'

Lord Of The Rings actor Christopher Lee is fuming after discovering all of his scenes have been cut from the third and final fantasy epic. The 81-year-old, who plays Saruman in the first two Lord Of The Rings films, says he was "shocked" and mystified by his exclusion from The Return Of The King - which hits cinemas worldwide next month - and has vowed to boycott the star-studded premieres. Lee says, "The only reason I'm able to say this is because it was on the internet and has been for some days. I only heard recently. As far as I'm concerned, I'm only telling you this because it has been revealed on the internet, someone has talked and it certainly wasn't me. Of course I am very shocked, that's all I can say. If you want to know why you would have to ask the company New Line or director Peter Jackson and his associates because I still don't really know why. I can't say any more because I signed a confidentiality agreement and I honored my word." And after being asked if he planned to attend any of the premieres, Lee snapped back, "No, what's the point? What's the point of going? None at all."

His presence was one of things I was really looking forward from "The Return of the King".

[daveblackeye15]

THAT SUCKS!!!

[raj]

*&%^(*&%&^!!!!

Of course he'll be added back in in the extended platinum director's edition, out next Christmas.

[Eirik]

SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T READ THE BOOK
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Well, think about it...  What this probably means is that they actually went ahead and shot The Scouring of the Shire where Saruman takes over and has to be ousted by the Hobbits.  In the book, you don't actually see Saruman in the scene at Orthanc where Wormtongue chucks the Palantir out the window, you just hear him scream.  After Helm's Deep, the next time you see Saruman is at the Scouring of the Shire.  So probably the theatrical release will end with the big celebration in Gondor and another half hour or 45 minutes will be tacked on in the special edition DVD that takes you up to the real ending of the book.  I'm actually encouraged that this news means they covered the book up to the very end - something I didn't think they'd do.  I was going to buy the special edition DVD either way, now I'm really looking forward to it!

[Dunners]

the last shire scene is NOT in the return of the king, Peter himself said he had to make room for more important things so sarumans last stand is inside Isengard. Five death scenes have been filmed, even Christopher Lee Himself didnt know which would be used. I do feel sorry for him getting shortshifted here, I do wish Peter would say f**k it and just add in the 7 minute scene.

but those newline wankers probably had more to do with this than he did. I mean come on a 3 horu and 7 minute cut of the film would be superb.

[Prophet Tenebrae]

Petere was quoted as saying that he didn't feel that it would be a good way to start the film... I feel that I agree. As the scouring of the shire is not part of the film, it's not such a big issue as his death was to be side-lined anyway. It's a shame but I think that the film will still be great.

In anycase, it'll be on the DVD.

[The Burgomaster]

I intend to buy the extended version DVD (as I have with the first 2 LOTR movies), so I will get to see Mr. Lee in all his glory.

[Neville]

The Burgomaster wrote: "I will get to see Mr. Lee in all his glory."

LOL I didn't know he had any nude scene.

[jmc]

I hate to say it, but I think Peter Jackson is probably right....though he should have handled it differently as far as telling Lee what happened.  Saruman isn't really an important character after the Ents wreck Isengaard, and none of the scenes with him locked in the tower really move the story along.  Still, I'm looking forward to seeing what was deleted.

[peter johnson]

Frankly, I think it's an appalling shame that The Scouring will not be in the theatrical version.  The final scene wherein Wormtongue turns on Saruman and kills him after reaching the end of his rope is one of the best and most shocking scenes in the book.  How very rude and cruel to an 81-year-old genius fantasy actor that he not be given this final death scene.
The en-minature version of the struggle of good and evil in the Shire after Sauron is gone shows that even though Evil writ-large is no more, the wickedness of the world persists.  Another important theme is how Evil seeks itself, in that Wormtongue is given numerous chances to escape & be welcomed by the hobbits, yet chooses to stick with Sauruman.
The Scouring is my favorite part of the final book.  Christopher Lee in his autobiograpy, "Tall, Dark and Gruesome", writes lovingly of how he reads
"The Lord of The Rings" once a year.  This book was published years before he was cast in the film, mind you.  Lee knows that the larger themes explored in the final pages really tie the whole volume together.
Yes, no doubt that the extended version will show some of the pollution of the Shire and the fears of the Hobbits, and the final great battle wherein the names of the 34 hobbit martyrs are carved onto the marker stones, etc., but I think Lee, like me, is p**sed that more could not be made of the real finale of the book.  I don't believe it's a matter of whether he's getting more screen time or not, just that it's a very bad decision re. respect for the true spirit of Tolkien, which Jackson has been very very good about up 'til now.
I am very disappointed to learn about this.
peter johnson

[dean]

i can see why the scouring would be cut, considering they didn't even finish two towers the book in the film, but i also think it's a really important scene, because of the reasons stated already, and that it allows us to see the hobbits in comparison to how they left: they are now brave, in control, and their whole outlook on life is changed.

if its not in the theatre release i'll understand, but if they cop out and kill lee off earlier then i'm going to be very dissapointed.  i'd hate to be deprived of a really good deleted scene.

[Newt]

My goodness, peter  johnson, I wish I had said that!

I will have to see the film before I know just how disappointed to be.   Whatever they have done to it, I hope it 'works' on some level.

Looks as though I will be lining up for the 'special' edition as well.

[peter johnson]

Thankyou, Newt --
I learn today that the Scouring will not even appear in the final film at all, and has in fact been cut altogether.  By this, I mean neither the DVD or the theatrical release will contain it.
What is being debated/tossed about/angering Lee currently is the fact that 7 minutes of conversation between Saruman and Wormtongue is cut from the theatrical release, but will be included on the DVD.  This, apparently, was all the screen-time that the characater of Saruman enjoys in the last film.  I was livid about this 2 days ago, but have since calmed down -- I mean, what the hell have I got to do with the decision-making on the film?
Oh, well . . . editing decisions/editing decisions/editing decisions . . . glad I don't have to do it . . .
Still, I am disappointed . . . No doubt the final film will be as good as the first 2, in its own way, but . . . I mean, who missed Tom Bombadil at all?  Too much Dr. Who in that.  But THE SCOURING, for God's sake . . .
eh, as Steven Wright once said:  You can't have Everything . . . Where would you put it?
Getting over it . . .
peter johnson

[Eirik]

Fans of the book are doomed to be disappointed by the inevitable omissions.  The part of the book that grabbed me and drew me in as a 12 year-old reader was the creeping menace during the flight from the shire.  Those chapters were reduced to 90 seconds in the Fellowship movie, but I could cope with it.  The movie was still great, and I am able to honestly advise friends that they can read the book and get much more out of it.

The scouring of the shire is crucial to the book's central theme of inevitable change and corruption of innocence.  But in terms of showing a story on screen, it is a looong way to go after the emotional/visual climax in Mordor.  I can accept it not being in there on the same grounds I can except the truncated flight from the Shire= Now I can tell friends that there's even more good stuff in the book than was shown in the movie.

I have two friends who I have convinced to read LOTR since the first movie came out.  Both of them finished and enjoyed it.  Anyone else finding that these movies have been good for Tolkein's readership?

[devil clown]

I think I will start by saying whats the F*** why have they done this why please tell me ?  
I would say he put in one of the best perfomaces of all the actors and now they cut him not right