The Lord of the Rings trilogy concludes with The Return of the King, providing an epic and satisfying end to the story. However, what happens after the events of the film has been the subject of speculation and curiosity for decades. After the One Ring is destroyed and Sauron is defeated, Mordor collapses and the war comes to an end. Aragorn becomes the King of Gondor, bringing peace to the land. But what comes next?

The Lord of the Rings takes place at the end of the Third Age of Middle-earth, with the Fourth Age beginning immediately afterward. While there are numerous films, books, and series that explore the events leading up to the trilogy, there is less information about what transpires afterwards. Nevertheless, J.R.R. Tolkien has provided some insight into the future of Middle-earth.

After the defeat of Sauron, a new era begins called the Fourth Age. Aragorn's main goal during this time is to restore the Kingdoms of Men to their former glory. He rebuilds Arnor, a once-prosperous kingdom that had fallen into decline, and becomes its 26th king. This enables him to take on the title of High King of Arnor and Gondor, unifying the two kingdoms.

With the departure of the Elves to the Undying Lands, the Dominion of Men begins in the Fourth Age.

The Elves, who were once the dominant race in Middle-earth, fade away, leaving humanity as the primary race. Additionally, the Dwarves gradually decline in numbers as their females choose not to marry.

Meanwhile, the Shire, home of the Hobbits, becomes a sanctuary for them. Aragorn, now known as King Elisaar, ensures that the Shire is protected from outside interference by banning Men from entering the land.

Tolkien did not write a full novel-length sequel to The Lord of the Rings, but he did start a story called The New Shadow, set a century after the fall of Mordor. However, he abandoned this project as he found it too dark and it remains unfinished. Nonetheless, there are plans for new Lord of the Rings films, such as The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an animated feature set before the events of the original trilogy.