# 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:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/61 "2005-08-11T14:13:02Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > … the Jerry Bruckheimer / Michael Bay version … > Other actors considered: > Frodo: Ewen McGreggor > Sam: Ben Affleck > Merry: Scott Caan > Pippen: Seth Green > Aragorn: Will Smith (meh…why not) 😃 > Legolas: Owen Wilson > Gimli: Tom Sizemore > Baromir: Still Sean Bean > Eowyn: Kate Beckinsale > Arwen: Still Liv Tyler > Elrond: Alec Baldwin > Gollum: Steve Buscemi > Theoden: Billy Bob Thortan :eek: 😃😃😃 ---
**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 11, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/62 "2005-08-11T14:19:33Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I could see Connery in the Jerry Bruckheimer / Michael Bay version > “Loshers alwash whine about carrying the Ring…winnersh go home and fuck the prom queen!!” > > Other actors considered: > Frodo: Ewen McGreggor > Sam: Ben Affleck > Merry: Scott Caan > Pippen: Seth Green > Aragorn: Will Smith (meh…why not) > Legolas: Owen Wilson > Gimli: Tom Sizemore > Baromir: Still Sean Bean > Eowyn: Kate Beckinsale > Arwen: Still Liv Tyler > Elrond: Alec Baldwin > Gollum: Steve Buscemi > Theoden: Billy Bob Thortan Strangely enough there was a long running rumor that Steve Buscemi was going to play Gollum, this never came from official Production, but apparently, too many people when trying to cast the movies themselves thought he was perfect. Even after Andy Serkis was cast the rumors kept circulating. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/63 "2005-08-11T15:12:57Z")
Come to think of it, I was never crazy about the actor who played Haldir (Galadriel’s top bowman, killed at Helms Deep), either. Seemed a bit too plump and supercilious to be an Elf. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/64 "2005-08-11T15:18:15Z")
> [@William V.](#): > > Come to think of it, I was never crazy about the actor who played Haldir (Galadriel’s top bowman, killed at Helms Deep), either. Seemed a bit too plump …to be an Elf. I thought he was OK in the first movie, but when I saw him in the next movie my comment was “Well, _he_ certainly didn’t turn down a 2nd trip to the catering service’s table.” ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2005, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/65 "2005-08-11T16:55:30Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > 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.[/COLOR] Baker said he was invited to audition for a role (he didn’t say which one), but knew he didn’t want to spend so much time away from home. So instead he did … ::shudder:: … **Dungeons and Dragons**. ---
**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 11, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/66 "2005-08-11T18:05:44Z")
I think Tom Baker would have been perfect as Radagast the Brown. ---
**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 12, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/67 "2005-08-12T02:25:55Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > Baker said he was invited to audition for a role (he didn’t say which one), but knew he didn’t want to spend so much time away from home. So instead he did … ::shudder:: … **Dungeons and Dragons**. [hijack] Carry on with the shuddering. Last I check, D&D II the movie is in productions… If they set it in Eberron, maybe all can be forgiven. Not forgotten, though. [/hijack] ---
**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 12, 2005, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/68 "2005-08-12T02:32:05Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > Baker said he was invited to audition for a role (he didn’t say which one), but knew he didn’t want to spend so much time away from home. So instead he did … ::shudder:: … **Dungeons and Dragons**. [hijack] Carry on with the shuddering. Last I check, D&D II the movie is in productions… If they set it in Eberron, maybe all can be forgiven. Not forgotten, though. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/69 "2005-08-12T04:13:22Z")
> [@ExtraKun](#): > > Yes, and having people shouting “Agent Smith” and “Mr. Anderson” at the screen when he appears really, really, ruins the fantasy mood. It seems you have been leading two lives, _Mister_ Under-hill. ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2005, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162/70 "2005-08-12T07:32:07Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Heterosexual male and for my money the lady with the most _oomph_ in the movie was Rosie. Oh, yeah! She was pretty and earthy. Eowin was almost the only approachable female among the characters, and while I liked her, she didn’t really do it for me. My thought at the end when Rosie opens the door and greets Sam with kids in tow was, “It’s no mystery why they’ve got so many Hobbitlings running around.” I can easily imagine impregnating her. Repeatedly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-for-lotr-who-was-supposed-to-play-frodo-gandalf-aragorn/316162.md?page=3)