Why huge actors cant be in lotr

[Anamatar IV]

I was thinking that The fellowship of the ring and all the other lotr movies wouldn't be the same (I think they'd be worse) if major actors were in the fellowship. By major actors I dont mean large names that people recognize like some that were in the fellowship but rather actors that are in so many movies that it is not about seeing the movie but rather seeing the actors.

So I wanted to start a thread of reasons why major actors couldnt be in the fellowship.:)

[Nóm]

I think it's more a problem of actors who are quickly and widely associated with a particular charactor. Though, if this were the case why Sean Astin? So many people think "Rudy".
Honestly, I'm not a fan of his Sam at all, not that I am a huge fan of Sam in the book.
Sam is my least favorite major charactor in the book, and by far my least favorite of the fellowship, so had someone other than Sean Astin played the part it probably wouldn't change the fact that I'm neutral about Sam.

I think Elijah Wood was very well known though. I like any charactor I've ever seen him play, but I don't automaticly associate him with any one charactor... well I didn't. I do now - Frodo.

[T'Vog]

I think it's people who haven't made such a name in big series works that people only remember them from that part. Like if they took and made Harrison Ford Aragorn, I'd be thinking of him as Indiana Jones all the time.

John Rees Davies has been in a couple roles, but none that fix that character on him...

[Mablung]

Yeah Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as Merry and Pippin wouldn't work too well.

[Mithlond]

Yeah i know what you mean, for me Elrond reminded me too much of Agent Smith from the Matrix. Hugo Weaving still did a great job in playing the part IMO, but he just stands out for me.

It just takes some of the magic away from the film having major actors in there. They would take you out of Middle-earth and into Hollywood.

[Ancalagon]

If Tom Cruise had played Frodo, they would not have had to shrink-to-fit him in the role. Just remove the cuban heels and bingo, instant Hobbit;)

[Mablung]

I can see the previews now.


Haley Joel Osement (or Osmond however it is spelled its the little kid from the 6th sense) is Frodo
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are his companions Merry and Pippin.
Jason Alexander is Samwise Gamgee
Fabio is their companion Legolas
Gimli the Dwarf is portrayed by Robert DeNiro
George Clooney is the Heir to Elendil Aragorn
Sean Connery is Gandalf the Grey
Tom Cruise as Boromir
Elrond played by Kevin Spacey
Harrison Ford is Theoden
Jack Nicholson is Denethor
Michael Jackson is Grishnakh
Liza Minelli is Ugluk
Christopher Walken is The Witch King
Keanu Reeves is Faramir
Nicole Kidman is Galadriel
Eowyn is Gwenyth Paltrow
Arwen is Natalie Portman
John Travolta is Saruman
Wormtongue is Nicholas Cage
Sauron is Tony Robbins (thanks to Hurin for that one)
Catherine Zeta Jones is Ioreth (Thanks to Hur again)

Did I miss anyone major?

[Arvedui]

Michael Jackson is Grishnakh

And they would have saved money on make-up, as well!:D

As most of the times I read her posts, I find Nóm to be quite correct again. I have a slight problem with Chistopher Lee as Saruman because of that. He is IMO too well known, and I don't quite distinguish him from Dracula.

Mablung: You could have added Tom Hanks in some role. Butterbur perhaps? And Denzel Washington as Mouth of Sauron.

[Niniel]

Yeah, I see why it wouldn't work for most of them :) I agree with Mithlond taht the most important reason why I didn't like Elrond was that I was constantly thinking about the Matrix. I really expected Keanu Reeves to come running onto the screen.

[Mablung]

I missed Bilbo too anyone have any ideas for him?

[Éomond]

Originally posted by Mablung
I missed Bilbo too anyone have any ideas for him?

That's a tuff one but I would have to say Ian Holm, no wait, he did play Bilbo! I was thinking ethier Mel Gibson or Tom Hanks:D:)

[Phee]

Originally posted by Mablung
Fabio is their companion Legolas

Talk about someone just being born to play a role. LOL ;)


Originally posted by Mithlond

It just takes some of the magic away from the film having major actors in there. They would take you out of Middle-earth and into Hollywood.

Agreed. Some people are just too well known. When you're watching Tom Cruise in a movie, you know you're watching Tom Cruise. No matter what character he's playing, you're still conscious of the fact that it's Tom Cruise. You can't have actors like that in a movie where you have to suspend belief and venture into the realm of fantasy.

From now on though, Elijah is gonna be known as Frodo. No matter what else he does, everyone's gonna think of him as Frodo. It'll be interesting to see if that ends up being a detriment to his future in the acting biz.

[Aerin]

Fabio is their companion Legolas

*dies laughing*

[T'Vog]

Gimli the Dwarf is portrayed by Robert DeNiro

*snerk*

*impersonates Robert DeNiro*

"Hey, nobody tosses a Dwarf, you got dat?"

But then the best thing would be to get Billy Crystal to do Legolas... :p

[Aerin]

Oh, yes, Billy Crystal as Legolas... "Analyze THAT, you Orcs!" :rolleyes: ;)

[Ithrynluin]

Originally posted by Mablung
Fabio is their companion Legolas
Michael Jackson is Grishnakh
Liza Minelli is Ugluk
Arwen is Natalie Portman
John Travolta is Saruman
Wormtongue is Nicholas Cage
Catherine Zeta Jones is Ioreth (Thanks to Hur again)

LOL Mablung! Fabio as Legolas? You might be on to something there - he sure has the hair for it (but the biceps is a bit too much for the graceful Elves).:p
John Travolta = Saruman? No no no! Travolta is not old enough to be Saruman.
Catherine Zeta Jones would make a better Arwen than the Portman woman. Why'd you put her in the role of Ioreth the OLD-woman?;)
Nicolas Cage as Wormtongue? But he's always such a good guy!
Liza as Ugluk?:eek: Poor Liza! (but a good choice!:D )
And Jacko as Grishnakh? Now that's a classic!:rolleyes:

[Ithrynluin]

Originally posted by Arvedui
And they would have saved money on make-up, as well!:D

As most of the times I read his posts, I find Nóm to be quite correct again. I have a slight problem with Chistopher Lee as Saruman because of that. He is IMO too well known, and I don't quite distinguish him from Dracula.

Mablung: You could have added Tom Hanks in some role. Butterbur perhaps? And Denzel Washington as Mouth of Sauron.

I think it all depends on the eye of the beholder (so to speak). I love Christopher as Saruman, and even though I've seen Dracula several times, that doesn't bother me in the least!
I bet I wouldn't like Hanks or Washington in those (or any other LOTR) roles.
We just all have different views and impressions from the films we saw or didn't see.

P.S. A word of advice, Arvedui. Nóm is a she!:p

[Mablung]

Originally posted by ithrynluin
LOL Mablung! Fabio as Legolas? You might be on to something there - he sure has the hair for it (but the biceps is a bit too much for the graceful Elves).:p
John Travolta = Saruman? No no no! Travolta is not old enough to be Saruman.
Catherine Zeta Jones would make a better Arwen than the Portman woman. Why'd you put her in the role of Ioreth the OLD-woman?;)
Nicolas Cage as Wormtongue? But he's always such a good guy!
Liza as Ugluk?:eek: Poor Liza! (but a good choice!:D )
And Jacko as Grishnakh? Now that's a classic!:rolleyes:

Your right about Catherine Zeta Jones.Nick would do well as Wormy. My personal favorite was Sam. I figured out a few others too with one or two edits. I did change Saruman too.

Russel Crowe is Eomer.
John Cleese is Tom Bombadil.
Bilbo is played by Christopher Lloyd.
Tom Hanks is Elrond. (Good call FREEDOM!)
Catherine Zeta Jones is Arwen.
Denzel Washington is Mouth of Sauron.
Bill Pullman is the Prince of Dol Amroth.
Christopher Walken is now Saruman
And Anthony Hopkins is the new Witch King.
Mel Gibson gets Mablung.
Kevin Costner is Damrod.
Val Kilmer is Faramir.
Kevin Spacey is Glorfindel.

[FREEDOM!]

Mel Gibson would have to play Aragorn, and Adam Sandler should play Pippin. that would be hilarious!

[FREEDOM!]

Oh ya and Tom Hanks could play Elrond, Liv Tyler would have to stay Arwen!

[Spartan117]

I think that PJ was smart not to get "super" actors as the fellowship, that really would have taken away from it.

[FREEDOM!]

So True...So true.

[Nóm]

A young Jeff Goldblum might be a good choice for Elrond.

Go here to see pictures. (http://www.goldblum.com/card.html) Go here to see which movies he's been in. (http://www.the-movie-times.com/thrsdir/actors/jgoldblum.html). I think he is probably well known though.

[T'Vog]

Bilbo is played by Christopher Lloyd.
Yeah, I can see Many Meetings now... "Great Scott! Frodo!"

And Anthony Hopkins is the new Witch King.
Heheh... Yeah, I can see that... He plays head games with Eowyn instead of threatening her...

[Aerin]

Oh, yes, Jeff Goldblum would be a great Elrond. Can't you just imagine Elrond trying to explain his Chaos Theory to Gandalf... *laughs*




Kudos to the first person who can correctly give a quick explanation of the Chaos Theory. I got it down. ;)

[T'Vog]

Is it...

A butterfly can flap its wings in Central Park and it rains in Missouri?

[Rangerdave]

Frodo/Rowan Atkinson
Sam/Tony Robinson
Merry/Tim McInnerny
Pippin/Hugh Laurie
Gandalf/Stephen Fry

RD

[Nóm]

Ian Malcolm!!! :D... My favorite Goldblum charactor.
I have't studied chaos theory but I understand it to be the study of how events seem to be random, but in fact aren't. That every little thing happens as a response to the rest of the system.
The butterfly thing is an example that shows how every tiny thing is a major player as it sets off a chain reation that effects the entire system.That's about all I know/think I know about it.

[Eriol]

Apparently complex events can be following very simple rules. The complexity is then a result of tiny changes in initial/environmental conditions, not of the complexity inherent in the event itself.

[FREEDOM!]

Getting back on topic......

Eomer/Ben Afflek
Aragorn/Arnold Schwaertzanegar (or however u spell it)
Theoden/Mel Gibson
Boramir/Kianna Reeves
Faramir/Uan McGreggor

[Aerin]

Good job on the Chaos Theory, everyone. ;) :D

Oh, I can just see Ben Affleck as Eomer.. if they cast him as Eomer, who would Jennifer Lopez get cast as? :rolleyes:

Arnold Schwarzenegger would completely ruin the idea of Aragorn; a noble king who has chosen self-exile, not a gun-slinging, bomb-shooting, womanizing Rambo-type with a thick accent. Maybe someone more along the lines of Jason Isaacs? (He was Lucius Malfoy in HP II, and the spy in The Tuxedo, and the captain of the Green Dragoons in The Patriot) That is, if Isaacs can drop the evil sneer on his lips.. hehe

Ewan McGregor as Faramir? Holy heaven, protect us...:eek: He was bad enough in Episode II Star Wars, not to mention being totally wooden in Moulin Rouge...
I don't really have a suggestion for who should play him (not being up on Hollywood stars), but all I can say is that whoever plays Faramir needs *brown* hair.....

I thought Boromir was the best portrayed character in the movie. Sean Bean had the right mix of arrogance and pride, fit for the son of the Steward of Gondor.

Mel Gibson would have made a good Theoden, as long as they could age him a bit, heh.

[Anamatar IV]

Originally posted by FREEDOM!
Getting back on topic......



Well FREEDOM-that isn't really on topic to the thread I started:rolleyes:

BTW-I still wanna know why major actors can't be in LotR...:rolleyes:

[Winch]

I think the answer is - what major actors/actresses would have committed themselves to a 3 year **** shoot in New Zealand? Of course NOW they would all say they would have jumped at the chance.

Do I not see our old friend Pierce Brosnan recommeded for any role?

[Nóm]

Anamatar I thought I covered that in my first post. A huge actor who is quickly and widely associated with a particular charactor should not be in the movie because people will have a harder time viewing them as the charactor they are playing.

[FREEDOM!]

Actually Peirce Brosnan should play Aragorn.

[Kiroshar]

You know, when I think of Ugluk, I immediately think of Liza Minelli.

Furthermore, having Ben Affleck as Eomer would be as bad as Ben Affleck playing someone like Jack Ryan. Oh wait, ... nevermind.

[Isenho]

Lol!

hmmm...it would be bad if one of the kids from that old TV show Home Improvement played the hobbits. *shudders*

[Calimehtar]

Yeah, I wouldnt want Ben Affleck or someone like that playing in LOTR. Because when I see Pearl Harbor or Changing Lanes, I dont know there "movie names" I would just say BEN AFFLECK got shot down and survived. And when he came back his best friend had his girl.

[FREEDOM!]

His name was Rafe in Pearl Harbor.

[MrFrodo]

I thought Boromir was the best portrayed character in the movie. Sean Bean

I agree that was because he had loadz of experince and could change his character really easy.

To me Gimli (Jonthan Rees Davies) also did a good job in the two towers he was much better.



Arnold Schwarzenegger would completely ruin the idea of Aragorn; a noble king who has chosen self-exile, not a gun-slinging, bomb-shooting, womanizing Rambo-type with a thick accent.

Im a huge arnie fan but i agree he would have just been that bit to hard for an aragorn but he could have played an Orc maybe!!! as long as he didnt speak :D

[Araheru]

Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler, Spock(Isn't that the guy's name from Star Trek)? You don't think these are big time actors?

Of course you wouldn't star Tom Cruise, Keannu Reeves, or Drew Barrymore. They wouldn't fit the parts.

[Precious]

Originally posted by Araheru
Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler, Spock(Isn't that the guy's name from Star Trek)? You don't think these are big time actors?

Of course you wouldn't star Tom Cruise, Keannu Reeves, or Drew Barrymore. They wouldn't fit the parts. Spock:confused: ..Elijah was 18 when filming for FOTR started. After seeing the movie, I cannot picture ANYONE else playing Saruman (Christopher Lee is the man!!) or Gandalf or Frodo. :D

[Araheru]

Also, the guy from Rudy?!

[Precious]

Originally posted by Araheru
Also, the guy from Rudy?! ...well, that's a tough one. He's good, but not what I pictured Samwise G. to be.