# Original Cast for LOTR: Who was supposed to play Frodo? Gandalf? Aragorn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162 "2005-08-08T19:26:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/21 "2005-08-09T03:29:37Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I really think Elrond was badly cast. Hugo Weaving was very stiff in the role and unconvincing. They should have searched longer. Yes, and having people shouting “Agent Smith” and “Mr. Anderson” at the screen when he appears really, really, ruins the fantasy mood. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/22 "2005-08-09T03:32:49Z")
> [@Ol'Gaffer](#): > > Was he that fat bearded guy with no shoes? Wasn’t him Peter Jackson?? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/23 "2005-08-09T08:42:39Z")
I always thought that pirate dude bore a disturbing resemblance to the belching, carrot munching soggy-man-in-the-rain in Bree in FOTR. Could just be me though. Hugo wasn’t the best choice for Elrond. Steve Tyler, maybe? I always thought Elrond would have looked a bit older…in that perpetually youthful way that old elves look old. Probably another small-name actor would have been good. Bowie would have been interesting, but he’d be best cast as a Goblin King of some sort. Connery has too much Hollywood baggage on his mug to successfully keep you in Middle Earth when you see him. His delivery is too ‘sly’ and I’d constantly be expecting him to put the moves on some of the younger lasses of Rohan. And he’d have to ride a Clydesdale. Overall though I think the cast was near perfect. I just saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Christopher Lee is in it. Intentional or not, he brought Saruman into that movie. It was odd, but it enhanced his role. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/24 "2005-08-09T09:48:50Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > The worst rumor/fact was Keanu wanted the Aragorn role but they never considered such a horror. When they were testing the idea that they’d use makeup or digital effects to make the elves look more ‘inhuman’ they used an image of Keanu as a base to work from. I don’t know if that’s because Keanu was considered for Legolas or Haldir or whoever, or if it was just a random choice of a suitable face-type. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/25 "2005-08-09T09:59:15Z")
I thought most of the casting in the Peter Jackson films of _The Lord of the Rings_ wasn’t very good, but Liv Tyler in particular was horrible in her role. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/26 "2005-08-09T10:31:11Z")
I thought Hugo Weaving was excellent. I thought Elrond came off as just a bit of an ass, which is OK because I always got that vibe off of him in the book, too. Plus, I thought his face was a great combination of youthful mixed with world-weary. I loved, loved, loved Bernard Hill as Theoden, but after watching the films a number of times, I think he looks a lot like Sean Bean, and would have made an outstanding Denethor. Of course, I don’t think even Hill could have rescued the travesty that was Denethor-as-written-for-film, but I think he would have done his best. I didn’t know who Viggo Mortensen was prior to Fellowship, but I was so glad they replaced Stuart Townsend, I didn’t care. I can’t believe anyone thought Townsend looked the part of Aragorn. I totally agree on Celeborn’s casting. Granted, it’s not a large role, but Martin Czokas seemed so stiff and lifeless, it was painful to watch. Liv Tyler? Meh. Count me in the (apparent) minority of heterosexual men, but I just don’t think she’s all that attractive, and I don’t think she gave Arwen any life. I’m not sure who could have done better, but I just wasn’t impressed. I thought the casting on the hobbits was excellent, and I remember reading LOTR in 8th grade in 1980 and, in my mind, casting John Rhys-Davies as Gimli. Think I can get a finder’s fee for that? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/27 "2005-08-09T12:30:17Z")
> [@Wendell Wagner](#): > > I thought most of the casting in the Peter Jackson films of _The Lord of the Rings_ wasn’t very good, but Liv Tyler in particular was horrible in her role. > [@carlb](#): > > Liv Tyler? Meh. Count me in the (apparent) minority of heterosexual men, but I just don’t think she’s all that attractive, and I don’t think she gave Arwen any life. I’m not sure who could have done better, but I just wasn’t impressed. IMHO: Liv Tyler is very pretty, even has a bit of a young elf look about her. (I don’t mean waifish celtic elf, I mean otherworldly Noldorian Half-elven ) but her role never should have been expanded, it detracted from the story and wiped out Elladan, Elrohir and Glorifindel. Also she is not a very good actress. I think the expansion of the Arwen role hurt the films more than it helped. If you wanted to expand the female presence, spend more time on Eowyn were it belonged. A Shield Maiden and Tragic and very a good casting. There was a lot more to her story that could have been told. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/28 "2005-08-09T14:21:32Z")
I liked Hugo Weaving (but, I’ve no attachment to the Matrix. I think I half watched half of the first two, after I saw FOTR.) I was not overly fond of the comic relief dwarf/comic relief tree nor the elven princess. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/29 "2005-08-09T14:49:26Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > I liked Hugo Weaving (but, I’ve no attachment to the Matrix. I think I half watched half of the first two, after I saw FOTR.) > > I was not overly fond of the comic relief dwarf/comic relief tree nor the elven princess. Have you read the books? Gimli was played fairly close to the character in the book. He was almost perfect casting. If you’ve only seen the movies, ok I respect your critique but I enjoyed the parts with Gimli very much. Casting note: in consideration for Gandalf was Tom Baker of Dr. Who. It would take a Dr. Who fan for details but he was the Tall Bushy haired doctor with a long colorful scarf from the early or mid 70’s. He wasn’t top of the list, but was being considered according to the onering site before any casting was done yet. (Yes, I am a LOTR fanatic) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/30 "2005-08-09T15:11:03Z")
Is there anywhere I can get a peek at Elijah Wood’s audition tape? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/31 "2005-08-09T15:14:17Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Is there anywhere I can get a peek at Elijah Wood’s audition tape? I was told it might be on one of the DVD’s. ---
**Author:** ![Corii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Corii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corii)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/32 "2005-08-09T15:19:09Z")
> [@ExtraKun](#): > > Yes, and having people shouting “Agent Smith” and “Mr. Anderson” at the screen when he appears really, really, ruins the fantasy mood. We couldn’t help murmuring “Welcome to Rivendell, MISTER Baggins” when he first popped up on the screen. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/33 "2005-08-09T15:24:55Z")
The only casting I didn’t like, because I think he is terrible, was Bloom as Legolas. Otherwise, I thought this role was incredibly well cast. As for casting on the cheap, Sean Astin said his salary (before the studio caved and gave the principals some back end cash) was $250,000 FOR ALL THREE FILMS. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/34 "2005-08-09T15:28:55Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > I always thought that pirate dude bore a disturbing resemblance to the belching, carrot munching soggy-man-in-the-rain in Bree in FOTR. Could just be me though. Darn the man is all over the place, keeps turning up in the extras as well, what a ham! > [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > Connery has too much Hollywood baggage on his mug to successfully keep you in Middle Earth when you see him. His delivery is too ‘sly’ and I’d constantly be expecting him to put the moves on some of the younger lasses of Rohan. And he’d have to ride a Clydesdale. The Clydesdale would have to have retractable slashing scythes and arrow proof plating. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/35 "2005-08-09T15:31:59Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I really think Elrond was badly cast. Hugo Weaving was very stiff in the role and unconvincing. They should have searched longer. I very much disagree. Weaving did not play a good _Tolkien_ Elrond, but he played an excellent _PJ_ Elrond. We are talking a man (OK, a Peredhil) who has lived over 7,000 years but is in the prime of life, and who stands to lose his daughter and his realm by standing by his commitment to the Forces of Good. Really tough role, and I think Weaving’s “stiffness” was an effort to portray Elven commitment-yet-detachment as a human actor. To me, it was an integral part of creating the role. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/36 "2005-08-09T15:46:27Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > I always thought Elrond would have looked a bit older…in that perpetually youthful way that old elves look old. You wanted Dick Clark to play Elrond? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/37 "2005-08-09T15:46:42Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > I very much disagree. Weaving did not play a good _Tolkien_ Elrond, but he played an excellent _PJ_ Elrond. We are talking a man (OK, a Peredhil) who has lived over 7,000 years but is in the prime of life, and who stands to lose his daughter and his realm by standing by his commitment to the Forces of Good. Really tough role, and I think Weaving’s “stiffness” was an effort to portray Elven commitment-yet-detachment as a human actor. To me, it was an integral part of creating the role. Your argument is sound. I have troubles disentangling my love of the books from the movie. I can’t view his performance the way you have. I had problems with every change to the story in all honesty. Some were minor but the changes to the parts involving Elrond & his children and Glorifindel pained me. I didn’t see where it added to the story and sped things along. I probably would not have been completely happy with anything under 18 hours of movie. I am still waiting for the Tom Bombadil and Barrow Wights. I need my scouring of the Shire also. It would probably make a good, exciting 90 to 120 minute movie by itself. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/38 "2005-08-09T15:52:58Z")
I liked Elrond’s portrayal, but it is unfortunate that one can’t help but add “… Mr. Anderson” to the end of all his lines. Liv Tyler is meh, but could have been worse, I guess. The one casting that I couldn’t get past was Theoden. I partially blame the facial hair, but he just didn’t look like a warrior king to me. Every time I saw him, I kept thinking “Isn’t he retired from an English progressive/art rock band?” > [@](#): > > Sean Connery has stated recently that he was offered Gandalf OK he was really offered Theoden, and I think he could have pulled it off, perhaps better that whoever it was. But it’s fun to imagine him as Gandalf. “Frodo! You musht take Shauron’s ring and casht it into the Cracksh of Doom! What’sh the matter? You need your mommy to help you, perhapsh?” ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/39 "2005-08-09T15:56:31Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > But it’s fun to imagine [Connery] as Gandalf. > > “Frodo! You musht take Shauron’s ring and casht it into the Cracksh of Doom! > What’sh the matter? You need your mommy to help you, perhapsh?” I wonder. Did anyone ever do “What if Ian Fleming had written Lord of the Rings”? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/40 "2005-08-09T18:55:37Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I was told it might be on one of the DVD’s. To my knowledge it is not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162.md?page=3)