Hollywood is full of stories of triumph, of success. Also, of course, failures. There are many stars for whom a film, a role, has complicated their career or even ended it. All of them, or almost, have that role that launched them to fame, that catapulted them to stardom. But seeing an actor in a role is a fact, it is something that goes down in history through the film in which he is filmed.
We never think enough that for every role in those credits, at the end or beginning of the film, which we almost never read, there could be completely different names. Of course, we already know that in auteur cinema it is normal for the director, and even the screenwriter, to be clear and responsible for the birth of the project itself. However, in big studio cinema, even the choice of director has come from a series of diverse names. And the same thing happens with scriptwriters, actors, directors of photography or musicians. And typically, many of these decisions are not simply artistic or economic. The first options usually fall through, simply because those chosen are involved in another project. If Emma Stone had not had to reject ‘Little Women’ and be replaced by Emma Watson, perhaps she would not have made ‘Poor Things’ and won her second Oscar. Maybe she would have made it through ‘Little Women’. Perhaps she would have made such a good tandem with Greta Gerwig that Margot Robbie would not have abandoned her reluctance when it came to playing Barbie and we would have had Emma Stone as Barbie…
Hollywood history is full of domino effects like that. Like both Will Smith and Brad Pitt could have been Neo before Keanu Reeves. Without it, perhaps we wouldn’t have John Wick today. The one who most often regrets this is Matt Damon who rejected ‘Avatar’. Not because Sam Worthington has made a great career thanks to the role, but because he was offered a percentage of the profits… However, one of the failed castings that most often shocks fans is that of Russell Crowe as Aragorn.
It is understandable that, for filming in New Zealand, the production of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ wanted an Australian star like Russell Crowe rather than the unknown Viggo Mortensen. Of course, at that time it was impossible to predict the natural and extraordinary symbiosis that the actor would have with the Dunedain heir to the throne of Gondor. In a statement collected by Variety, Crowe has shared his excuses for rejecting the role, and the truth is that they are very good.
If he rejected the role it was not because he did not believe in the project, because he did not want to commit to shooting three films in a row under the direction of an unknown director, because he was paid little or because of scheduling problems. The actor knew that he was the star of the moment, and that is why he himself imagined that it was the studio and not the director, Peter Jackson, who wanted him in the film.
I felt like the studio was making that decision, not the director of the film. I spoke to Peter Jackson on the phone and he wasn’t telling me the kind of things directors tell you if they’re really trying to lure you into a project. I had the feeling that he already had someone else in mind for what he wanted to do. For me to step forward and say that he was indeed going to stand in his way.
The generosity of Russell Crowe, who at that time would be with a ‘Gladiator’ that hit theaters a year before ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’, allowed us for Aragorn and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ to be what they are today.
Rafael is an expert in movies, series and video games. His thing is classic and auteur cinema, although he doesn’t miss a Marvel movie or the hit of the moment on Netflix due to professional deformation. He also has a geeky side to him, as proven by his specialization in anime, k-pop, and everything related to Asian culture.
By generation, sometimes he has to write about current musical hits, from Bizarrap to Blackpink. It even has its erotic side, but limited, unfortunately, to selecting the best erotic series and movies. But he doesn’t limit himself there, since he also likes to write about gastronomy, travel, humor and memes.
After 5 years writing for Fotogramas and Esquire, the truth is that he has already done a little bit of everything, from interviews with international stars to mobile phone presentations or tastings of oil, insects and, yes, if he’s lucky, wine.
He trained in Audiovisual Communication at the University of Murcia. She later continued at the Carlos III University of Madrid with a Master’s Degree in Research in Media. In addition to beginning a doctorate on sexual representation in arthouse cinema (which she never finished), she also studied a Master’s degree in film criticism, both at ECAM and at the Writers’ School. Before, he cut his teeth writing on the Cinealacarbonara blog, continued in media such as Amanecemetropolis, Culturamas or Magnolia Magazine, and dedicated all his efforts to Mutaciones Magazine since its foundation.
He arrived at Hearst in 2018 and managed to carve out a niche for himself in the editorial offices of Fotogramas and Esquire, with which he continues to write about everything he likes and what they send him (often coincides). His good or bad taste (depending on how you look at it) also led him to get into the world of gastronomy and video games. Come on, he likes to entertain himself.
