With the arrival of the long-awaited second season of The Rings of Power, the universe of Middle Earth is back on everyone’s lips. This series, set thousands of years before the events narrated in The Lord of the Ringshas rekindled interest in the iconic films directed by Peter Jackson and, of course, for the literary work of JRR Tolkien.
To learn a little more about this cinematic universe, we’ll leave you with some interesting facts you didn’t know about The Lord of the Rings.
Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, Sean Astin in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Cordon Press
1. Viggo Mortensen is not playing Aragorn
Viggo Mortensen, who played the iconic Aragornwas not the first choice for the role. In fact, the actor originally chosen was Stuart Townsendwho had already begun filming. However, Peter Jackson decided that they needed a more mature actor to play Isildur’s heir. Mortensen, who was initially hesitant to take the role, eventually joined the project, and to live up to expectations, he undertook a impressive physical transformation.
Viggo Mortensen in The Lord of the Rings | New Line Cinema
2. The real accident that appears in the film
One of the most exciting scenes in The Two Towers is when Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli find the remains of the Company of Rohan, and Aragorn kicks a helmet in an act of frustration. What many do not know is that Viggo Mortensen really broke two toes as he kicked. The scream of pain we see on screen is real, as Jackson decided the shot was so authentic that he left it in the film. Mortensen continued acting despite the injury.
3. A very special version of the ring
The One Ring, which plays a central role in the story, was replicated in several versions for movies. However, for very close shots, a special and oversized version of the ring. This giant ring allowed the details carved into it to be clearly visible on screen. Also, as a curious fact, all versions of the One Ring were made by Jens Hansena New Zealand jeweler. The original ring is now in a museum in New Zealand.
‘The Lord of the Rings’ | New Line Cinema
4. Sean Connery turned down the role of Gandalf
Although now it is impossible to imagine anyone else Ian McKellen As the wise Gandalf, legendary actor Sean Connery was originally considered for the role. However, Connery turned down the offer, due to I didn’t understand the script or the storyDespite being offered a large sum of money and even a percentage of the films’ profits, Connery decided not to get involved in the project.
Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings | Gtres
5. The epic battle that took 4 months to film
The battle of the Helm’s Deepone of the most iconic scenes of The Two Towers, It was filmed over four monthsmost of the shots were filmed at night. The actors and extras, many of them stuntmen, endured the inclement weather and the long hours of filming. Peter Jackson directed many of these scenes in pajamasdue to the low temperatures and exhaustion. The effort was worth it, as the battle is considered one of the best war sequences in the history of cinema.
Viggo Mortensen and Liv Tyler in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ | New Line Cinema
With these curiosities, it is even more evident the gigantic effort that was behind The Lord of the Rings, a trilogy that remains a benchmark in epic cinema. Tomorrow, with the premiere of the second season of The Rings of Power, fans have the opportunity to once again immerse themselves in the rich mythology of Middle Earth. Without a doubt, both the films and the series will continue to delight new generations of viewers. Don’t miss it!
