# Re-cast Lord of the Rings. Badly. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974 "2013-08-23T15:35:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/21 "2013-08-23T20:26:06Z")
Okay, let’s see… First, the Fellowship: Gandalf - French Stewart Aragorn - Jason Alexander Boromir - Randy “Macho Man” Savage Legolas - Jeff Garlin Gimli - Justin Timberlake Frodo - Djimon Hounsou Sam - Katt Williams Merry - Vin Diesel Pippin - Jason Statham Elrond - Ray Romano Galadriel - Melissa McCarthy Arwen - Victoria Jackson Theoden - Michael Cera Denethor - Paul Reubens And one that I think would be truly awesome: Gollum - Al Pacino ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/22 "2013-08-23T20:26:20Z")
Stars of Yesteryear, 1940s version… Bilbo - Gregory Peck Gandalf - Gary Cooper Aragorn - John Wayne Boromir - Cary Grant Legolas - Errol Flynn Gimli - Edward G. Robinson Frodo - Jimmy Stewart (“Why, look-ee here Mr. Gandalf, now you know I don’t want to go off chasin’ after some confangled ring thingy! Why, M-Merry would throw a fit!”) Elrond - Humphrey Bogart Arwen - Ingrid Bergman\* Galadriel - Judy Holliday Denethor - Lon Chaney Jr. Theoden - Sir Lawrence Olivier Sauromon - James Cagney\*\* Gollum - Peter Lorre \*… _rowr_… \*\* technically, Christopher Lee could have been cast in a late-1940’s version of LOTR, but he already had his chance. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/23 "2013-08-23T20:29:32Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Stars of Yesteryear, 1940s version… > … > Gollum - Peter Lorre > … Then again, Lorre would have been PERFECT for Grima Wormtongue. He practically built his entire career out of playing the part… ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/24 "2013-08-23T20:32:36Z")
True. Perhaps Lon Chaney Jr. as Gollum and Orson Welles as Denethor, with Peter Lorre playing Grima Wormtongue. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/25 "2013-08-23T20:32:53Z")
The cast of M.A.S.H. (TV version, later years) I will specify Alan Alda as Sauron. The rest, fit in as you will. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/26 "2013-08-23T21:07:04Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > The cast of M.A.S.H. (TV version, later years) > > I will specify Alan Alda as Sauron. The rest, fit in as you will. Harry Morgan would obviously have to be Gandalf David Ogden Stiers as Gimli and William Christopher as Legolas Gary Burghoff as Frodo Jamie Farr as Sam Mike Farrell as Aragorn Loretta Swit as [del]all[/del] both of the female characters Wayne Rogers as Boromir, McLean Stevenson as Theoden, and Larry Linville as Wormtongue - they all get killed off ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/27 "2013-08-23T21:08:02Z")
Every character played by Eddie Murphy, Klumps-style. ---
**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 23, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/28 "2013-08-23T21:31:46Z")
> [@nicky](#): > > Btw Anyone else think Bean and Mortensen were cast the wrong way round ? I’d be curious why you’d think this. Based on other films I’ve seen those guys in Bean’s acting style is naturally bold, he’s a guy I could actually see slaughtering thousands of orcs in open battle and then stealth bragging: “I couldn’t have slaughtered those thousands of orcs had the rest of my men not kept the enemy’s 100 elite guard at bay.” Mortensen, on the other hand, has a more sneaky/stealthy demeanor. Not in a slimy way, but understated–like someone who has the personal charisma to bend the will of thousands of battle-hardend warriors but really prefers trusting his life only to his own abilities. TLDR: Bean can yell clearly from his diaphragm like a combat leader (Osgiliath), Mortensen’s uvula gets in the way like someone who is less accustomed to wanting to be heard from quite a long way away. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/29 "2013-08-23T23:41:39Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I actually think Patton Oswalt could pull off Gimli. > > But these couldn’t: > Gandalf - Gilbert Gottfried > Gollum - William Shatner > Aragorn - Will Smith > Frodo - Manute Bol > Bilbo - Yao Ming > Merry - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar > Pippin - Scottie Pippen 😃 > Gimli - Gwyneth Paltrow > Elrond - Danny DeVito > Galadriel - Snooki > Arwen - Honey Boo Boo > Legolas - Ben Stiller Forgot one! Samwise - Christopher Walken ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/30 "2013-08-24T02:00:40Z")
Gandalf – Jeff Bridges (in his “Big Lebowski” persona) Aragorn – Nick Nolte Gollum – Sylvester Stallone Frodo – Bryan Cranston Sam – Leonardo di Caprio Pippin – Kevin Costner Merry – Aston Kutcher Elrond – Brad Pitt Galadriel – Taylor Schilling Arwen – Kate Mulgrew Gimli – Jason Biggs Legolas – Bruce Campbell Saruman – Bob Odenkirk Boromir – Mickey O’Rourke Theoden – John Goodman Denethor – Stephen Colbert Faramir – John Turturro ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/31 "2013-08-24T04:50:31Z")
> [@nicky](#): > > Btw Anyone else think Bean and Mortensen were cast the wrong way round ? Nope. Both are perfect for the roles they did play. Frodo: Kiefer Sutherland Sam: Johnny Depp Aragorn: John Goodman Legolas: Danny DeVito Gimli:Alexander Skarsgård Gandalf: Steven Wright Galadriel: Roseanne Arwen: Nobody (she doesn’t appear in the book. 😉 ) Gollum: George Clooney ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/32 "2013-08-24T13:05:56Z")
Steven Seagal as Bilbo Chuck Norris as Frodo ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/33 "2013-08-24T15:18:03Z")
Some additions to my original list; Saruman - Robin Williams Treebeard - Corey Feldman Grima Wormtongue - Rick Moranis Eowyn - Grace Park Eomer - Dwayne Johnson Faramir - Tom Felton Samwise Gamgee - Jayden Smith ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/34 "2013-08-24T18:47:34Z")
Frodo: Chevy Chase Treebeard: Christopher Walken (“The…Ents ah…going…to woah.”) Arwen: Sidibe Gabourney Sauroman: Woody Allen Gimli: Kareem Abdul Jabbar Sam: Gilbert Gottfried Strider: Rick Moranis ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/35 "2013-08-24T19:12:25Z")
> [@cormac262](#): > > So to re-cast LOTR, you may NOT use: > > - Rosie O’Donnell > - Ahhnold I think Ahhnold would make a great Stone Troll, and Rosie could be pretty good as Shelob (although Roseanne would be better). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/36 "2013-08-24T19:46:37Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Gollum - William Shatner > Samwise - Christopher Walken Okay, now I’m imagining the argument scenes between these two characters. ---
**Author:** ![caergolau\_yahoo.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb9ed0/32.png) [@caergolau\_yahoo.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caergolau_yahoo.com)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/37 "2014-08-25T23:10:16Z")
I did Lord of the Rings Re-Imagined back in 2012 or so. Here is a link to my comic strip of the cast: > **[Lord of the Rings Reimagined by caerbran on DeviantArt](https://www.deviantart.com/caerbran/art/Lord-of-the-Rings-Reimagined-301853136)** 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/38 "2014-08-25T23:41:58Z")
Gandalf - Bob Denver Aragorn - Henry Winkler Legolas - Jar Jar Binks (most of what Legolas does ic CGI, so go the whole way) Frodo - Bob Hope Sam - John Ratzenberger Arwen - Roseanne Barr Saruman - Rupert Grint ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/39 "2014-08-25T23:52:29Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Forgot one! > Samwise - Christopher Walken I can just see that scene: “Ahhhh… Mr. Frodo. Sir… I know a… Fine place that you…Can hide the ring! It’s the same place… Mr Bilbo… Kept his fathers watch… When he was captured by… The Orcs.” Also: Legolas: Yul Brynner ---
**Author:** ![Quercus\_alba](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quercus_alba/32/4061_2.png) [@Quercus\_alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus_alba)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974/40 "2014-08-26T00:39:40Z")
Feel free to adjust and advise– Gandalf - Graham Chapman Aragorn - John Cleese Boromir - Terry Jones Legolas - Eric Idle Gimli - Michael Palin Frodo - Simon Pegg Sam - Nick Frost Merry - Rowan Atkinson Pippin - Tony (Baldrick) Robinson Elrond - Hugh Laurie Galadriel - Prunella Scales Arwen - Carol (Zoot) Cleveland Theoden - Brian Blessed Eowyn - Connie Booth Saruman - Terry Gilliam Gollum - Andrew (Manuel) Sachs [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-cast-lord-of-the-rings-badly/666974.md?page=3)