Russell Crowe was very close to being part of The Lord of the ringsthe epic fantasy franchise that adapted the books of JRR Tolkien 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 the magazine British GQthe actor explained the reasons that led him to decline the offer, a decision that he “does not regret.”
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 the decision to hire me, not the director of the film. When I spoke with Peter Jackson “On the phone, he didn’t tell me the kind of things a director would tell you if he really wanted to attract you to 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 and accepted, I would actually be standing in his way,” he 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 the actor Viggo Mortensen, who earned critical and popular acclaim for his memorable portrayal of 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.
Meanwhile, the cinematic universe of The Lord of the rings continues to expand. Peter Jackson returns as producer of a new film titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollumwhich will be directed by Andy Serkis, the actor behind the iconic Gollum in the original trilogy. Its theatrical release is expected in 2026.
Viggo Mortensen, for its part, does not rule out an eventual return as Aragorn, depending on the plot. “I really liked playing that character and I learned a lot from doing it. I would only do it if it was suitable for the role in terms of the age I am now,” he told British GQ.
On another front, Crowe also opened up about the upcoming sequel to Gladiatorthe film that brought him world fame in 2000. In the podcast “Kyle Meredith with…”, the 60-year-old artist admitted to feeling “a touch of melancholy and jealousy” for not being involved, as he remembers the age he was when filming the first part “and all the doors that film opened for me.”
However, he also questioned the focus the feature film could have on character development. “I’m a little uncomfortable with the fact that they’re doing another one, because, of course, I’m dead and I have no say in what’s done,” he said. “Some things I heard made me think ‘No, no. That wasn’t that character’s moral journey.’ But well, I can’t say anything because I’m underground”.
“Gladiator II,” starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal, among others, will be released in theaters on November 22 of this year.
