Happy Tolkien reading day! Have you read LOTR? It’s a pretty hefty series, but it changed the fabric of our fantasy worlds forever.
Tolkien Reading Day is celebrated on the 25th because it’s the date of the fall of Sauron and Barad-dur.
To honor the great series, here are a couple of cool Lord of the Rings trivia from the movies that you might not know:
1. Aragorn was a difficult role to cast
Did you know Nicholas Cage was offered the role of Aragorn? After he turned it down it went to Irish actor Stuart Townsend, who was training for two months… then was unfortunately fired the day before filming began. Needing an older actor, that was when they cast the face we all know and love, Viggo Mortenson. Russel Crowe was also a backup for the role!
2. Viggo was injured on set
Remember the scene when Aragorn discovered the burnt corpses of the orcs and thought that Merry and Pippin were dead? He kicked the helmet, let out a scream and a cinematic performance of agony. In actuality, he had just broken two of his toes! He’d also gotten half his tooth knocked out during a fight sequence and insisted on continuing! What a man.
3. Christopher Lee wanted to play Gandalf
As an avid superfan, Christopher Lee, who we know as Saruman, was originally set on Gandalf. He even played a wizard in the TV show The New Adventures Of Robin Hood specifically for the role! However, he knew he was a bit too old for the action-heavy role of Gandalf, which went to Sir Ian McKellen instead.
4. The Producer wanted to kill one of the hobbits
Bob Weinstein, one of the producers in the early days was adamant that one of the four hobbits should die. Peter Jackson just nodded and said he’d entertain the idea. Because it didn’t happen in the books, there was no way they wanted to change the story that drastically!
5. Sean Bean is afraid of flying
During the filming of the mountain scene, Sean Bean refused to take the helicopter to the different film site locations and ended up trekking for hours up the mountain in costume! He ended up two hours behind everyone else (which is honestly not that bad).
Did you know these Lord of the Rings Trivia? Check out some fun LOTR inspired products below 🧙
Ancient Tongues Luminous Ring
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Discovered deep in a nondescript mountain cave, this ring is inscribed with a forgotten language. The only hint at the powers it contains is the ethereal glow it gives off in the dark. Was it left by a benevolent higher… SEE MORE
Orc Slayer Sword Necklace
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There are legends of a shortsword enchanted to warn its owners of impending danger, saving their lives many times over... This necklace has been made with metal and high quality phosphor which glows in low light or dark environments. It can… SEE MORE
Glow in the Dark Great Sword Necklace
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Capable of splitting the mightiest boulders, the origins of this legendary sword is shrouded in mystery. All that is known is that it is imbued with magical powers, one of which manifests as a strong glow when it sensed the… SEE MORE