Russell Crowe was very close to being part of The Lord of the Rings, the epic fantasy franchise that adapted JRR Tolkien’s books to the big screen. However, the actor decided to step aside when he was applying for the role of Aragorn. In a video interview with British GQ magazinethe actor explained the reasons that led him to decline the offer, a decision that he “does not regret.”
Ester Palomino
The protagonist of Gladiator He was very interested in the feature film as he was an avid reader of Tolkien. However, after an uncomfortable telephone conversation with the New Zealand director, he realized that the right thing to do was to retire.
“I had the feeling that the studio was the one who made that decision to hire me, not the director of the film. When I spoke to Peter Jackson on the phone, he wasn’t telling me the kind of things a director would tell you if he really wanted to bring you into the project,” he explained.
Crowe stressed that he shares New Zealand origins with Jackson, so he noticed that his tone of voice and way of speaking were uncomfortable. “I just had the impression that he already had another actor in mind for the role. And if I stepped forward by accepting, I would actually be standing in his way,” she added.
In another interview with a radio show, the actor alluded to the interest that the studio had. “I felt like they forced him to talk to me, because there was a time when everyone loved me everywhere,” he said.
His decision allowed the leading role to fall to actor Viggo Mortensen, who won applause from critics and the public for his memorable performance as the heir to the throne of Gondor. More than 20 years after the release of the trilogy, which grossed $2.9 billion at the global box office, it is difficult to imagine another performer in the role.
More details in INFOBAE
