Keep reading the book, but just as it was with "Fellowship of the Ring," there's no guarantee that "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" will follow it exactly.

"KcM," a source for Dark Horizons, recently caught up with director Peter Jackson, writer Fran Walsh, composer Howard Shore and actor Christopher Lee at a New York City signing, and came back with some interesting information about "The Two Towers." Please note that some of the information below could contain spoilers, and none of this has been confirmed with New Line Studios, so treat this report as you would any other rumor.

The biggest absence from the film with the be character Shelob, featured in the second book of J.R.R. Tolkien's famous trilogy.

"Apparently, they've expanded the Frodo-Sam-Gollum-Faramir stuff quite a bit, and as such, Shelob has been kicked to the beginning of ('The Return of the King,')," KcM said. "No word on how they'll end ('The Two Towers'). (Jackson) wanted us to know so that 'we wouldn't be disappointed.'"

Walsh has been busy both writing and directing Gollum's backstory. Flashbacks of Smeagol and his birthday present will be in the upcoming movie, according to the source.

Also missing from the new movie will be the Scouring.

"There's been a bit of back and forth on this on the web, but (Jackson) says it just didn't work for the film version," KcM said. "The scene in Galadriel's mirror in 'Fellowship' is an homage to the Scouring, and that's all there'll be."

After earning a near-record 13 nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences, Jackson was apparently happy about the recognition, but didn't expect much more than that. KcM said he expected to win technical awards and nothing more, but was happy about getting the nods that "nobody can take from us."

There also was new news about "Fellowship of the Ring," which remains in theaters awaiting its next big boost late next month.

"March 22 is the day the new last reel goes out to theaters," said KcM, referring to the reel of the movie that will contain more than three minutes of teaser footage from "The Two Towers."

Shore, who was nominated for an Oscar for his scoring of "Fellowship," is composing new music for the 30 minutes of cut "Fellowship" footage that is going to be included in the DVD editions.

And speaking of the DVD, it will be called an "alternate version" rather than a "director's cut" because Jackson said he didn't like the latter referral. It will contain more scenes of Galadriel's gift-giving, and more "Fellowship" character development.