J.R.R. Tolkien started and abandoned a Lord of the Rings sequel during his lifetime, and it would have broken one of the franchise’s greatest traditions. The legendary author called the novel The New Shadow and completed about 13 pages before seemingly deciding that this wasn’t the right next step for his Middle-earth stories. Set about 200 years after the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The New Shadow would have followed two Men, Borlas and Saelon, as they determined how to handle a new evil threat, the Dark Tree.

Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are set in Middle-earth’s Third Age, while posthumously published works like The Silmarillion are set in the First and Second Ages. The New Shadow would have been the author’s only story set in the Fourth Age, which came to be known as the Age of Men. It makes sense that Tolkien would have considered extending his story beyond Sauron’s downfall, but such a tale would have differed significantly from all previous Lord of the Rings books. First, with Elves and wizards mostly departed from Middle-earth, the characters themselves would have been changed.

Tolkien’s Unfinished Lord Of The Rings Sequel Wouldn’t Have Followed A Hobbit & Wizard

Men Would Have Been The Heroes Of The Next Lord Of The Rings Book

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books all followed a common trend—the protagonist was a Hobbit who was guided on an adventure much larger than themselves by a wise old wizard. This was a winning formula and one that fit perfectly with the overarching themes of The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien’s The New Shadow would have interrupted this. By the time this story played out, Gandalf would have traveled to Valinor centuries before. There were certainly still Hobbits in Middle-earth during the Fourth Age, but it’s clear from Tolkien’s 13 pages that the protagonists of The New Shadow were Men.

After Sauron’s defeat, Middle-earth was left to Men to govern. It was implied in The Lord of the Rings that there would be threats over the years that would need to be handled, but these would be entirely within Men’s abilities to subdue. This is what Tolkien aimed to explore in The New Shadow, and there certainly could have been an exciting story here worth telling. However, a Lord of the Rings sequel that diverts from the underdog-and-guide trend of the previous novels would have ultimately hindered the poetic balance of the overarching series.

Tolkien’s Underdog Main Characters Are Part Of The Reason LOTR & The Hobbit Are Great

Hobbits Were The Unlikely Heroes

Tolkien did something extraordinary by featuring a Hobbit as the primary characters of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. This is especially evident in the latter, where a character like Aragorn was the more obvious choice for a traditional hero. The long-lost king of Gondor fits in the “chosen one” archetype—a character born to rise from nothing into greatness and face off against an evil opponent. Tolkien even emphasized this fact in The Lord of the Rings by making the villain Sauron set his sights on Aragorn. The Dark Lord was sure Gondor’s king would be his nemesis, so he never saw Frodo coming.

Tolkien took the Heroes Journey formula and turned it on its head. Rather than exiled king Aragorn serving as the underdog hero, the Hobbit Frodo stepped in as the unlikely replacement. Hobbits are small in stature but also uncomplicated in desires and pleasures. They love the earth and things that grow and aspire to a great meal rather than heroics. Even Frodo and Bilbo, who enjoyed travel and adventures, valued community above all else.

Such unlikely creatures serving as heroes are what made The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings exceptional. Sauron was a powerful being who could have instantly destroyed Frodo, Bilbo, or any other Hobbit. However, their simple natures meant that the Dark Lord overlooked them entirely. This is precisely why Gandalf chose Hobbits as the heroes of Middle-earth, and this wizard character is another piece of what made The Lord of the Rings so perfect.

Wizard Mentors Make Tolkien’s Fantasy Stories So Much Better

Gandalf Was The Archetypal Guide With A Twist

Gandalf is another character in The Lord of the Rings that fits perfectly within a Heroes Journey archetype. He is the guide character, who is typically presented in fiction as wise to the point of omniscience. Of course, Tolkien put a spin on this aspect of the age-old formula as well. Rather than a perfect and all-knowing guide, Gandalf is temptable and sometimes uncertain. He had his own character arc, which isn’t standard for the guide archetype. Gandalf had been sent on a journey to guide the beings of Middle-earth against Sauron, but he lacked confidence that he was right for the job.

Of course, Gandalf’s being the only wizard to recognize the power of the little Hobbits proved that the Valar had made the right choice in sending him to Middle-earth. Wizards like Saruman mocked Gandalf’s love for Hobbits, but it was precisely this that made the lesser Istar the only of his kind to fulfill the mission given him. Gandalf was magical and powerful, and this brought that unmistakable fantasy flair to The Lord of the Rings—but his poetic fondness and partnership with Hobbits is what allowed Tolkien’s work to stand out.

I’m Glad Tolkien Didn’t Break Away From Tradition To Pen A Fourth Age Story

The Ending Of Lord Of The Rings Is Perfect As It Is

I love and appreciate Middle-earth’s place in the fantasy genre, so I most certainly would have read a Lord of the Rings sequel set in the Fourth Age. The full Age of Men is something of a mystery, and we know very little of what went on during the centuries leading up to Dagor Dagorath. The trials and tribulations faced by Gondor would have certainly been thrilling, and there likely would have been some exceptional heroes of Men who would step forward and save the day. However, it wouldn’t have felt the same without that memorable and meaningful partnership between a powerful wizard and a lowly Hobbit.

Said and done, the ending of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was the perfect way for Tolkien to conclude his story. It makes it clear that Frodo’s sacrifice to take down Sauron was worth it. Yes, there would be more challenges, but the hard work of a wizard and Hobbit had ensured that the race of Men would be able to handle it alone. Any further works that suggested otherwise would have only diminished the impact of Tolkien’s iconic story.

The Lord of the Rings

Movie(s)

The Lord of the Rings (1978), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

Created by

J.R.R. Tolkien

First Film

The Lord of the Rings (1978)

Cast

Norman Bird, Anthony Daniels, 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, Brad Dourif, Karl Urban, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Morfydd Clark, Mike Wood, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Sara Zwangobani, Daniel Weyman, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Lenny Henry, Brian Cox, Shaun Dooley, Miranda Otto, Bilal Hasna, Benjamin Wainwright, Luke Pasqualino, Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt

TV Show(s)

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Character(s)

Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, Legolas, Boromir, Sauron, Gollum, Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, Celeborn, Aragorn, Galadriel, Bilbo Baggins, Saruman, Aldor, Wormtongue, Thorin Oakenshield, Balin Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Nori, Dori, Ori, Tauriel, King Thranduil, Smaug, Radagast, Arondir, Nori Brandyfoot, Poppy Proudfellow, Marigold Brandyfoot, Queen Regent Míriel, Sadoc Burrows

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