Director Sees More 'Rings' Changes
Staff Reporter

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Defying the wrath of purists, Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson has made changes to the original scripts of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy novels in the second and third movies of the popular trilogy.

Jackson is already under criticism from some Tolkien fans over liberties taken in the first film, "The Fellowship of the Ring,'' which opens this week in the United States.

He said Thursday that there would be further departures from the author's plot in the next two films.

Jackson said starting with the second picture, "The Two Towers,'' moviegoers can expect to see expanded roles for several characters.

"Some (parts) are slightly bigger in some instances,'' Jackson said, citing expanded roles for Rohan King Theoden and his nephew Eomer.

In "The Fellowship of the Ring,'' the biggest change was the invention of an enemy warrior called Lurtz - but this had been known and anticipated for a long time.

Jackson said rough cuts already had been made of the second and third films. The "Two Towers'' will be released at Christmas 2002. The third, "Return of the King,'' is set for screening around Christmas of the following year.