Lord of the Rings: Actors Almost Cast as Aragorn
Though it's hard to imagine anyone but Viggo Mortensen playing Aragorn, the Lord of the Rings character was almost cast with a different actor.
Summary
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are, by subtitle, The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003). The films were directed by Peter Jackson and distributed by New Line Cinema. Considered to be one of the biggest and most ambitious movie projects ever undertaken, with an overall budget of $285 million, the entire project took eight years, with the filming for all three films done simultaneously and entirely in Jackson's native New Zealand. Each film in the trilogy also had Special Extended Editions, released on DVD a year after the theatrical releases. While the films follow the book's general storyline, they do omit some of the plot elements from the novel and include some additions to and other deviations from the source material. Set in the fictional world of Middle-earth, the three films follow the hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as he and a Fellowship embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring, and thus ensure the destruction of its maker, the Dark Lord Sauron. The Fellowship becomes divided and Frodo continues the quest together with his loyal companion Sam (Sean Astin) and the treacherous Gollum (Andy Serkis). Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), heir in exile to the throne of Gondor, and the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) unite and rally the Free Peoples of Middle-earth, who are ultimately victorious in the War of the Ring. The trilogy was a great financial success, with the films collectively being the sixth highest-grossing film series of all time (behind Harry Potter, James Bond, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Shrek). The films were critically acclaimed and heavily awarded, winning 17 out of 30 Academy Awards nominated in total. The final film in the trilogy, The Return of the King, won all 11 of the Academy Awards for which it was nominated, tying it with Ben-Hur and Titanic for most Academy Awards received for a film. The trilogy received wide praise for its innovative special and visual effects. A two-part prequel based on Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit, is currently in production, slated for release in 2012 and 2013.
latest
Exclusive: Damian Del Borrello on His Emmy Nom for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
The supervising sound editor unpacks his big Emmy nomination, the mystique of J.R.R. Tolkien, and the world’s fascination with The Lord of the Rings.
Archery Expert Evaluates Katniss Skills on The Hunger Games and Results Are Not the Best
Jennifer Lawrence did a good job developing archery skills to play Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, but her form is not the best, says expert.
Ahsoka Star Rosario Dawson Reveals Her Character Might Become Star Wars’ Gandalf
Rosario Dawson talks about Ahsoka’s transformation, comparing it to that of The Lord of the Rings' Gandalf.
Lord of the Rings: Who Is the Strongest Wizard?
Between Gandalf, Saruman, and others, who's the strongest wizard in Lord of the Rings?
Every Lord of the Rings Movie and TV Show, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
There have been ten major adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit over the years, and there will soon be even more.
Lord of the Rings: What Do the Rings of Power Actually Do?
You know the characters and the famous quest, but do you know what the so-called rings of power actually do?
Lord of The Rings Connection Could Bring Mouth of Sauron to Rings of Power Season 2
The enigmatic character could have an appearance in the upcoming Rings of Power as it connects to The Lord of the Rings.
Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings Get The Anime Treatment in New AI Fan Art
New AI images have captured the main characters from the two iconic fantasy franchises in a whole new way.
Gandalf vs. Dumbledore: Who Would Win This Battle of the Wizards?
Let's compare the magical abilities of Dumbledore and Gandalf to determine who would win if they ever fought.
Lord of the Rings: Why We Need an Animated Series set in Middle-Earth
Lord of the Rings has a long history in animation with Ralph Bakshi's film and The War of the Rohirrim. Tolkien's world is a great fit for the medium.
The Lords of the Rings: The Rings of Power - 7 Things the Prime Video Series Got Right
Contrary to what some people may say online, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has actually done a lot of things really well.
Lord of the Rings: The Beauty of Boromir's Death
Boromir dies in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings is a critical moment for the series that highlights his complex character.
Lord of the Rings: The Visual Masterpiece of the Balrog
The Balrog is one of the most iconic creatures in Lord of the Rings, here is how the filmmakers brought it to life and why it continues to endure.
Lord of the Rings: 11 Great Moments from the Movies that Weren't in the Books
Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy is considered to be a great adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, but there was still room for new material.
Lord of the Rings: Do We Need a New Movie in the Franchise?
Warner Bros. has announced its involvement in a new Lord of the Rings franchise, but do we really need a new one?
3 Ways Dune Compares to Major Franchises like Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings
With Denis Villeneuve's Dune films underway, the works of Frank Herbert have been compared to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Lucas's Star Wars.
Andy Serkis Thinks It Would Be 'Amazing' to Play a Role in New Lord of the Rings Movies
The Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis would love to return to Middle-earth.
Bill Murray’s Gandalf and Willem Dafoe’s Sméagol are Just Two of the Wonders In a Wes Anderson Inspired Lord of The Rings Fan Trailer
A host of Wes Anderson stars appear in Lord of the Rings roles in a very unexpected fan-made trailer.
Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Charges to France's Annecy Film Festival for Debut
The upcoming animated Lord of the Rings prequel will have its grand debut this June, then will be released to cinemas in April of next year.
Sean Bean Reveals Which of His Many On-Screen Deaths is the Best.
Sean Bean is the master of the on-screen death, and the actor recently recalled his first and named his best.