Russell Crowe, best known for his role in Gladiator, had the opportunity to portray Aragorn in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, Crowe has revealed that he turned down the role, citing reasons that he believes indicated Jackson didn’t really want him for the part. Despite the immense success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the iconic status of the character of Aragorn, Crowe stands by his decision and expresses no regrets.
Crowe mentioned in an interview with British GQ that he felt the studio was the driving force behind the casting decision, not Jackson himself. Crowe recalls that when he spoke with Jackson on the phone, he didn’t receive the enthusiastic response from the director that he would have expected if he was the first choice for the role. This lack of excitement from Jackson reinforced Crowe’s belief that he was not the director’s preferred candidate for the role.
In a previous discussion about the same topic, Crowe reflected on the subtleties in Jackson’s voice during their conversation that made him realize he wasn’t the director’s top choice. Crowe, being a fellow New Zealander, was able to pick up on cues in Jackson’s tone that indicated a lack of familiarity with his work. This reinforced Crowe’s belief that he wasn’t the actor Jackson had in mind for the role of Aragorn.
Ultimately, Stuart Townsend was initially cast as Aragorn before being replaced by Viggo Mortensen, who delivered a memorable performance in the role. The casting change worked out well for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as Mortensen’s portrayal of Aragorn was well-received by audiences and critics alike. Crowe acknowledged that Mortensen was a great choice for the role and accepted that he may not have been the right fit for the character.
Crowe also expressed reservations about the upcoming sequel to Gladiator, his most iconic film. Despite the success of the original movie, Crowe won’t be reprising his role in Gladiator 2 due to his character’s demise in the first installment. While he acknowledges the impact and legacy of Gladiator, Crowe seems content to let go of the role and explore other opportunities in his career.
Russell Crowe’s decision to turn down the role of Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy was based on his perception of Peter Jackson’s lack of enthusiasm for casting him. Despite missing out on a significant role, Crowe stands by his intuition and respects the casting decisions that brought Viggo Mortensen to the iconic character of Aragorn.
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