15 facts about Lord of the Rings you probably didn't know

15. Boromir's corpse was actually a dummy

For the iconic Boromir's funeral scene, a life-size dummy was used instead of Sean Bean, who had already left New Zealand. The realistic model served as Boromir's corpse in the boat, allowing the poignant scene to be filmed without the actor himself. | © New Line Cinema

14. Balrog was just a ping pong ball on a stick

In the famous Gandalf versus Balrog scene, Ian McKellen delivered his lines to a ping pong ball on a stick, used to establish the correct eye line. This simple prop stood in for the fearsome creature, which was added later through digital effects. | © New Line Cinema

13. The tallest actor in the cast played Gimli the Dwarf

John Rhys-Davies was the tallest member of the Fellowship cast standing at 6′ 1″ (or 1.86 meters for the rest of the world), yet he played Gimli the Dwarf, one of the shortest characters. This casting choice added a unique twist to production, showcasing the magic of cinema in transforming an actor completely against his type. | © New Line Cinema

12. The Return of the King is one of the most successful conclusions

The Return of the King is the perfect conclusion for the trilogy that drew crowds back to theaters and amassed an impressive $1.146 billion globally. Its acclaim didn't stop at the box office; the movie dominated the Oscars, winning all 11 of its nominations. | © New Line Cinema

11. Battle of Helm’s Deep took months to finish

The Battle of Helm’s Deep is the most epic battle scene in the trilogy's history, and it took a staggering four months to complete, primarily because the majority of scenes were shot during the night. This made it one of the longest single sequences shot for the series. | © New Line Cinema

10. More than 19,000 costumes were created for LOTR

The scale of production in The Lord of the Rings was truly phenomenal, particularly in the costume department. To bring the vast array of characters to life, the team crafted over 19,000 costumes, which ensured that every character was authentically attired. | © New Line Cinema

9. The Gollum Effect was based on drug addicts

The Gollum Effect, which is associated with Gollum's behavior, the way he moves, speaks, and interacts with the environment was intentionally modeled after the behaviors of drug addicts. | © New Line Cinema

8. Hobbiton set was near New Zealand's North Island

The Hobbiton set was established near Matamata, a town on New Zealand's North Island. Spanning over a mile-and-a-half square, the construction of this iconic set took more than a year to build. | © New Line Cinema

7. Christopher Lee had lifelong love for LOTR

Christopher Lee had a lifelong love for The Lord of the Rings; he had immersed himself in the enchanting world of Middle-earth annually for over four decades before stepping onto the set. This role fulfilled a lifelong dream of bringing part of Tolkien's universe to life on the big screen. | © New Line Cinema

6. Fight scenes were choreographed by an Olympic fencer

The fight scenes in The Lord of the Rings were masterfully choreographed by Bob Anderson, an Olympic fencer and Britain's national fencing coach. He was a pivotal figure behind some of the most iconic sword fights on screen, including a duel in The Princess Bride. | © New Line Cinema

5. Peter Jackson was the main hater of wizards

Despite being the director of one of the most iconic fantasy sagas, Peter Jackson isn't a fan of traditional wizardry in films. Even the duel between Saruman and Gandalf is more of a hands-on scuffle, which reflects Jackson's desire for a more grounded approach to wizardry. | © Motion Picture Association

4. The title of the final book was chosen without Tolkien

The title of the final book in the trilogy The Return of the King, wasn't even Tolkien's first choice. He believed it gave away too much of the story and preferred a different title, but publishers had the final say and went with a title that, to Tolkien's dismay, might have hinted too much at the finish. | © New Line Cinema

3. Arwen and Aragorn are cousins

Aragorn and Arwen share more than just star-crossed love, they are distant relatives, sixty-three times removed. Both hailing from the unique lineage of half-elves, they had the choice between living as elves or humans. | © New Line Cinema

2. One more step scene was written at the last minute

The legendary "One more step" scene was the last-minute addition to the filming schedule. This line which emotionally highlights Sam's journey, was quickly put together and added to the film, becoming one of the most memorable moments of the trilogy. | © New Line Cinema

1. New Zealand invented a holiday for LOTR

New Zealand declared September 22 the Hobbit Day, celebrating the important role of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The special day marks not only a tribute to the trilogy's influence but also acknowledges the surge in tourism that followed the films' success. | © New Line Cinema