Editing Post-production began in November 2002, with the completion of the 4½ hour assembly cut of the film that Annie Collins had been completing over 2001 and 2002, from 4-hour dailies. For example, Théoden leading the charge went from 150 minutes of takes to a finished 90 seconds. Jackson reunited with longtime collaborator Jamie Selkirk to edit the final film. Like The Two Towers, they would have to deal with multiple storylines, and Jackson paid attention to each storyline at a time before deciding where to intercut. Most importantly they spent three weeks working on the last 45 minutes of the film, for appropriate intercutting and leaving out scenes such as the Mouth of Sauron, and the fates of characters like Legolas, Gimli, Éowyn and Faramir. The film inherited scenes originally planned to go into the second film, including the reforging of Narsil, Gollum's backstory, and Saruman's exit. But the Saruman scene posed a structural problem: killing off the second film's villain when the plot has Sauron as the main villain. Despite pick-ups and dubs, the scene was cut, causing controversy with fans and Saruman actor Christopher Lee, as well as a petition to restore the scene. Lee nonetheless contributed to the DVDs and was at the Copenhagen premiere, although he said he would never understand the reason for the cut and his relationship with Jackson was chilly. They would, however, later reconcile upon Lee's casting in Jackson's Hobbit films. Jackson only had a lock on 5 out of 10 reels, and had to churn out 3 reels in 3 weeks to help finish the film. It was finally completed on 12 November 2003. Jackson never had a chance to view the film in full due to the hectic schedule, and only saw the film from beginning to end on 1 December at the Wellington premiere; according to Elijah Wood, his response was .
edItIng post-PROdUcTiOn bEgan in noVemBer 2002, WIth tHe complETion of the 4½ hour assemBly cUt Of the film That anNie cOlliNs HAd been cOMpLEtIng ovEr 2001 and 2002, From 4-Hour DAiLiEs. fOR Example, théOden leadiNg tHE CHarge weNt from 150 MInutEs OF tAKes to A finisheD 90 secoNds. JACksoN rEUnited with lOngtiME cOlLaBORator jAMie SElkiRk To EdiT The fInal FiLm. like the tWo tOwErS, They would hAVE tO deal wiTh multiple storyLiNes, anD JacKsoN pAid aTteNtIon tO EaCh SToryLIne At a timE before DecIding WhErE to intERCUT. moST ImpoRtantLy they spent three weEks wOrking on tHe laSt 45 miNUtES of thE FIlM, foR aPPrOPRIAtE intercuTTiNg aNd lEAving out sceneS such As The MouTh of sAuRON, AnD The FaTes of cHaractErs lIkE LEGoLas, gimli, Éowyn anD faRaMir. the fiLM INHErited sCeneS orIginaLLy plaNNeD tO Go Into tHe Second fiLm, InclUdIng the reForgIng oF naRsil, GOlluM's BaCkstoRy, and sarumaN'S ExiT. bUt ThE sarumAn SceNe pOsed a struCTuraL prOblem: killIng Off ThE sEcOnd fILm's viLLaIn whEn the ploT has sAuron as The Main villaIn. deSpItE pick-ups and dubs, the sceNe was cUt, causiNg ConTRoVErsY witH fanS aNd saRuman ACTor CHrIsTopher Lee, As weLL aS a peTitIon to restorE tHe scene. leE nOneTHelesS contributeD to tHe dvDs anD waS aT tHe copenhageN pRemierE, ALtHOugh hE saiD hE wOuld nEver undERstanD THe reason foR thE cUT AnD his relatIoNship wIth jacKsON was cHillY. tHEY wOuLD, howEveR, lATeR reconcILe upOn lee's cAsting in JaCkson's hobbit films. jaCkson only HAd A loCK ON 5 out of 10 reELS, ANd Had To cHurn out 3 reeLS iN 3 weeKs to heLP Finish ThE fiLm. it waS FINally coMpleTed on 12 novEMbeR 2003. jAcksoN never had A chAnce to vIew thE fiLm in FulL DUE To tHe hectic scHeDulE, and onlY Saw tHE film From bEGiNnIng to eNd On 1 deCemBeR at the welLiNgTon premIere; AcCOrdinG To eLIjah wood, HiS RESponse WaS .