Why the Lord of the Rings Fired Aragorn
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- The story of how Peter Jackson fired the original Aragorn from his "the Lord of the Rings" film trilogy, and how this led to Viggo Mortensen getting the part, transforming the films entirely.
Let it not be forgotten that we have Henry Mortensen to thank: if it wasn't for Viggo's son (who knew/read LOTR) - who pushed his dad to take the role.
I was looking for this. ( Apendices RULE! )
Yes!
Thank you for this wonderful channel ! I read the books and winced at some of the previous attempts to make a film that would be true to Tolkien's books.
oops
Yes, I remember Viggo talking about this. Way to go, Henry! Henry must be out-of-this-world proud of his dad.
Can't imagine anyone but Viggo for the role. Dude was a natural.
Not to me I'm afraid.
@@peterembranch5797 who was your choice then?
relative meh.
i could imagine russel crowe
Daniel Day-Lewis
This trilogy seriously is a one in a lifetime wonder, a miracle of creative genius.
that trillogy not only came out at the EXACT time in history with the perfect mix of CGI and costumes, but also the actors were 100% spot on with the right age and persona. Not even in a 100 years from now we'll get something like this.
@@wythore It never came to my mind but omg you are so right, it not only has such great actors, but even the limitations worked in its favor.
My generation's Star Wars. (Rather than my generation's _actual_ Star Wars films, all of which pale in comparison to the LoTR trilogy.)
When the head honchos got word that New Yorkers were paying the full fee to see the trailer of Lord of the Rings then after paying their ten-plus dollars to watch the "Coming soon" then head to to get some food. I think the Studio honchos started giving thought to a new luxury car. $$$$$$$
@@wythore So very Yess!
It's impossible to imagine a different Aragorn.
except for Nic Cage as Aragorn. it's always easy to imagine the nightmares...
one does not simply change the actor
@@ba55bar I suppose you think that's terribly clever 👀
@@ba55bar 😂😂😂😂
Try John Hurt
Shoutout to Viggo's son, who ultimately convinced him _to_ accept the offer to play the character. Viggo hadn't read the books and was going to turn it down until he mentioned it and saw his son's excitement as he told him to take it.
Hats off to that youngster.
Give that son an award
What I love about that story is that it's a beautiful parallel to how The Hobbit got published. It was the son of the publisher who said to do it, because he'd loved it so much.
@@RaptorJesus "Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is"
Word.
I disagree with the take that Viggo wasn't in character in the pub scene. At that point in the books, we only knew "Strider." It was perfect in my eyes.
Exactly. He didn’t know or trust the hobbits yet. They were strangers to him as he was to them. I think it was exactly in his character to be cautious until he knew them better.
Cody Vojacek, I agree completely. Viggo nailed that very first scene, and I was immediately convinced that Peter Jackson had made the right choice! Tolkien described Strider as vaguely threatening when the hobbits see him for the first time. And he literally kidnapped them and abducted them into his room. The hobbits didn't know, yet, that they could absolutely trust this Strider person. Viggo did a great job in these first scenes!
I would always get a good chuckle when people bring up the on-screen age gap between Aragorn and Arwen in the films…
“He’s WAY too old.”
“You’re telling me. When they got married, Aragorn was actually damned near 90 years old.”
“OMFG!”
“Arwen was almost 2,800 years old.”
“Wait… what???” _head explodes_
Arwen, the Elven cougar.
@@teemusid She wasn't even old by elf standards. The 'older' elves were well over 6000 years old. Galadriel (one of the oldest known elves) was around 10 thousand years old.
Not to mention she's technically his great great great etc etc aunt
@@konradpotgieter7866
True. All royal families are inbred lol
@@konradpotgieter7866 I thought it was more like cousins -- Arwen descended from the line of Elrond , while Aragorn was of the line of Elrond's twin brother Elros who chose to be human (but with an extra long lifespan).
If Viggo deflecting a real knife from the air with a sword isn’t enough to tell you he was perfect for the part, I don’t know what it is
*prop knife.
@@remliqa It was a real metal knife.
@@Tpachal
Real metal prop knife, important distinction.
@@remliqa You should look up the story. It was a real waited throwing knife that was not meant to be thrown at the actor.
@@Tpachal
Yes, I know the story. There was no confirmation if the actor (playing Lurtz) was supposed to throw the knife directly at Aragon or he was supposed to aim at a tree past Viggo and aimed at him in mistake , the only only that was certain was Viggo did defects it for real . Nonetheless it was still a prop knife. No production would allow the use of a real knife in that situation due to the risk .
Because Mortensen is Aragorn. Sword skills, nature, behavior, he is Aragorn irl.
right? his actual equestrian skills and his humanity in purchasing a horse from the movie for one of the cast members speaks volumes about his character
He isnt tall enough lol, Aragorn is quite tall
@@victorkreig6089 Gimli wasn't short enough either, but they somehow managed.
@@aldeayeah not the same, making Brian shorter was both easy and a thing
Viggo wasn't 6'6 nor depicted as such
@@victorkreig6089 Neither were the elves, who should tower over everyone.
I was not pleased with Viggo’s casting when it was announced. But the moment I saw the first teaser trailer in theaters (Yes, I paid to see another movie just so I could see the teaser!) I knew Viggo was the perfect Aragorn!
Viggo just fit both the Ranger look and the Kingly Aura in the last movie. Wouldn't have guessed that considering his other roles first.
@@wilhelmrk it was my own limited vision. It was unlike anything he had done up to that point. He owned that role. I was never more happy to be wrong.
What was the other movie?
@@jkhristian9603 Do you remember what movie you went to see the trailer?
@@johnkramer2144 It was a movie about the Cuban Missile Crisis with Kevin Costner called 13 Days.
Thinking about how close we were to having another actor playing Aragorn or having Viggo dead (because he apparently deflected a real knife accidentally thrown at him during a fight scene) makes me hopeful that maybe we're not in the cursed timeline after all (at least not the worst one)
We're in the best timeline. It's just not what most of us ever imagined. As others attest, some other timelines that I thought would be best by how good we would have gotten it at first, were in the long run bad timelines. Instant gratification is a Trojan horse.
We are in the one timeline Dr.Strange saw.
And even that timeline had bittersweet moments
Well, safe to say we are not in the timeline where Troy gets the pizzas.
There are plenty do time lines that would likely have turned out better...
...Or maybe we used all our allotted luck on good LoTR movies and a happily still-breathing Viggo?
The BTS for lotr puts it really well: "Viggo stepped into his role as Aragorn just as suddenly and mysteriously as Strider walks into the story".
It's not just the way viggo looked, it was the integrity and wisdom he brought to the role. Just perfect
Remember the scene where the Urukhai took Merry and Pippind and Aragorn kicked a helmet in frustration?
He broke his toes when he kicked it and his frustration scream was actually from the pain he broke his toes.
He finished the entire scene and noone realized he hurt hismelf until they were done.
Bob Anderson, the brilliant swordsman and fight choreographer, said Viggo was the best swordsman he'd ever trained. Viggo played Aragorn brilliantly and spoke Sindarin fluently.
I love Viggo's voice, it has a hint of softness that can't be replicated
lol.. that was the worst part of Viggo in lotr, he whispered all his lines.
I like that he sounds like he's breathing helium. A bit like Joe Pesci and Ben Shapiro.
@@tsalvlaxitov9594 Tbh when I first read the books, his voice definitely came to me like "a guy who's seen some shit", I always imagined him having a whispery tone with a deep voice, and was so surprised after seeing the movie cause Viggo absolutely nailed that
@@Haris-bg4jy IDK man in the book Aragorn is portrayed as powerful and dangerous, in the movie he seems like an unconfident pussy.
@@tsalvlaxitov9594 Does Aragorn in the books look like Thorin in the Hobbit movies?
Man how awful would it have been to not have Viggo playing Aragorn.
We would never have known
@@robertandrewbaptie3006 thank you for this
@Tommy El Gato HOW???
@@robertandrewbaptie3006 I don't think he means by direct comparison, but rather the film itself seen as it would have been, would have been bad. We wouldn't have Viggo would have made it better, but we would have known the actor playing his character was poorly cast and it would have taken away from the emersion and on the whole made the experience of watching bad on it's own.
@@Bobby.2000 yeah i agree no one else could've played the part half as good
Viggo's father had a farm near me.
The locals met Viggo, said he was totally down to earth.
Viggo is smoking hot too.
He had a troubled childhood who's only solace was horse riding and fishing along with books. It makes perfect sense when you put it in context
Viggo is just a wholesome guy in general. Honestly he's a real life Aragorn
Oh yeah. He’s a cutie. 💕
@@victorkreig6089 Makes also sense why he wants to spend more time in the nature than in Hollywood. World could use more actors like him.
yess i had such a crush on him.
Viggo seems to be that king of person/professional that makes everything automatically better just by being involved in it.
We all should strive to be that person
Not sure if you meant "kind of person" but for sure "king of person" also oddly works. I'll allow it.
I think Townsend would have made a fantastic Aragorn if they done a "adventures of young Aragorn" spinoff, but Viggo was definitely the perfect choice. The way he speaks, the way he moves, the way he is in real life. He was born for this role.
From what the video says it wasn't Townsend's look or his abilities that cost him the role. It was him not wanting to put in the work that made Jackson replace him in the end.
Not really, Aaragorn doesn't look old at all at the time of the LotR trilogy.
@@victorkreig6089 Neither did he look young. Honestly he probably looked like he was in his early to mid thirties. That said, I doubt Townsend could have brought the authority to the role that Viggo did, if for no other reason than that Viggo put in the work and thought to do so that Townsend seemed unwilling to do.
LeStat (I.e., Townsend) would look as young or as old as the makeup man wanted him to; does Rhys-Davies look like a tree?
Anyway, I think Ralph Bakshi had the right man cast as Aragorn, but that was a few too many decades before Jackson’s adaptation :-) . Not listed on IMDb, but I think it was the guy who played Sir Guy of Guisbourn in the Costner version of Robin Hood; I guess being rotoscoped in wasn’t enough for whoever makes up the database.
@@Egilhelmson You're saying they should have put prosthetics on him to make him look older? After he'd refused to rehearse or practice the sword with the trainer? Why in the world would they spend the extra money, hours of time, and effort when they could just get another actor who did look the part?
That's ridiculous. It's not like the world is short of good actors.
Crowe and Patric were decent backups. Especially Patric. The issue would have been his accent. Mortensen was just destined to play Aragorn. I can't see anyone else being tender towards Boromir as he's dying.
They were also considering Jeremy Irons. He probably would've been decent too.
@@revanofkorriban1505 Crowe or Patric would have been pretty good, but Irons...I dunno...you sure they were thinking of him for Aragorn? He might have been pretty good in a few other roles though. Elrond or Denethor maybe. I don't think he'd rock the beard so well, but probably a good Saruman
@@johnmacleod2487 They did mention him somewhere, I recall.
@@johnmacleod2487 i would say irons would have been a great choice to play boromir's dad (the false king of gondor)... he would have played the role amazingly!
@@ThiccTropius Agreed. But...
*Steward of Gondor. Not false king. He was legitimately the steward while the King was absent. That's why the army and the citizens still recognized his authority
Are you telling us that Viggo had been _ranging_ and rehearsing for the role long before in his private time without realizing it?
Did that include kicking things and breaking his toes? XD
Just couldn’t imagine a different Aragorn. Viggo is a true Renaissance man. Townsend’s attitude sounds a bit arrogant and insecure to me, where Aragorn is self-assured and humble - qualities Viggo embodies.
Don't think it's fair to judge Townsend at this remove, particularly without hearing his account of events. Reading between the lines, it seems like it might have been an interpersonal or mental health issue - Not sure I would do any better in that situation, particularly if stuck in New Zealand, half a world away from my friends and support network.
@@PantomimeHorse maybe you’re right, although the attitude of ‘I’m just not gonna try and learn anything from this master fencer who’s employed to teach me’ while being part of a major production that people would love to have the opportunity to be on, is what made me think it. It could be homesickness though, that can really do a number on you, or just the sheer effort involved. On Billy and Dom’s podcast they’ve said that the minute they stepped off the plane they were working, they had meet and greets at Weta after 36 hr flights in and filming days were relentless.
Renaissance? How about the orignal bronze age nobility?
Townsend was too young and too soft. Viggo was older and actually outdoorsy enough to play this 90-year-old ranger who's spent most his life sleeping on the ground but is also a commander.
Viggo who hadn’t read the books: Umm, it’s some fantasy character named Aragorn. I’m not sure if…
Viggo’s son who adored the books: Are you kidding me?? They want you to play Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings??
Viggo: Yeah, but I’m not sure if…
Viggo’s Son: DAD! DO IT!!!!!
Viggo: Okay, sure, if you really want me to.
Viggo was and is the perfect Aragorn. He has the age and the badassness, the outdoorsy vibe and the kinglike posture, the humble yet phenomenal presence. Plus he rides and swordfights like a natural.
Refusing to train in swordplay and “winging” it on the day would be such huge red flags. No wonder it was probably on Peter’s mind all the time. It’s not like Townsend was some legendary fight trained action star or anything, or had the big Hollywood name that the producers would want to use for advertising.
“There is only one Lord Aragorn…. Only one…. And he does not share actor”
Interesting, thanks. Yeah, Viggo himself was a risky choice for New Line - not a "name" actor. He'd been around forever, since the 80s, but had never become a "celebrity" (mostly by assiduous choice, lol). It was probably a big debate until everyone realized, "Wait a minute, this whole damn project is risky." A lot of recognizable faces, but not a lot of name recognition. Here in the States, probably the three "biggest" actors were Wood, Astin, and McKellen, the latter having recently done a couple of splashy villainous roles that Americans had seen (in Britain he was already a national treasure, of course). The paradox was that "bankable stars" would have likely sunk the movies. Tom Cruise as Aragorn. (shudders)
Ha ha a short Aragon who wears lifts
Classic Lifes, yes, Tom Cruise as Aragorn would have been terrible! Maybe, it was a good idea, not to hire big stars, because lesser known actors had a better chance to be identified with their characters instead of being reckognized as a big Hollywood name. That said, Russel Crove might have been a good Aragorn, although in a very different way than Viggo Mortensen, who managed to convince me easily.
Ian Holm was a pretty big name, albeit he's not in the trilogy much.
The problem is that it looks like he nailed his screen test. So it would seem that the studio gave their thumbs up on the performance.
It’s seems though that the damage was done in the relationship. I can’t complain though Vigo was a perfect fit and this just adds more to the performance considering he had less time than the others.
Entire 2 months prep training! Insane to imagine how well of a fit he was already able to pull off all the physical skills besides just the acting that the role required!!
I went into seeing Jackson's LOTR with Legolas being my favorite (second to to Bilbo) as I loved him from the books. It was Viggo's performance that made Aragorn my favorite from the films. I adore the maturity and intensity he brought to those movies.
THANK GOD!! Perfect casting Viggo as Aragorn. Total commitment to his character. He played a Beautiful Aragorn. Stunning Noble Masculine embodied in Aragorn.
The horses loved him. 🦄 Even the pink ones.
And he can sing!
@@ladytenor9876 he can???
Niall Reid
Yeah, remember Aragorn singing at the end of Return of the King?
@@_Cato_ huh vaguely. I must rewatch the entire trilogy.
When Viggo gets a role he becomes that character, that’s why it was so good. When he was filming Alatriste, Pérez-Reverte, the one that wrote the novels, said that Viggo became captain Alatriste. To the point that Pérez-Reverte never said where Alatriste was born in the novels, it was Viggo who decided and told Pérez-Reverte where was Alatriste born. Viggo and his characters, are the same person, that’s what he brings to the table.
A recent episode of the podcast The Friendship Onion with hosts Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan had Sean Astin as their guest. And they talked about the hobbits being pulled aside after that Ringwraith scene in the forest to learn that they were letting Townsend go. It was an interesting conversation for LOTR fans.
Did they mention enjoying Viggo once he was there?
@@spencergrady4575 Not at that specific moment, but it’s well known that Dom & Billy did come to love & enjoy Viggo - they mention him every now & then in the podcasts, can’t tell you which episodes. They talk about LOTR frequently though the podcast is not just about that. I love the episodes where they had Sean Astin & Elijah Wood, such a delight 😊
Oh wow really, I'll have to check that out
If Russell Crowe had taken this job, we'd likely never have had Master and Commander. Good choices in both cases.
@My Lord Yes! And severly underrated
You say that, but then Viggo as Cpt Aubrey would have been quite interesting
Wait Master and Commander is actually good? I thought it was a huge flop? Am I missing out?
@@victorkreig6089 That is true, though he's talented enough to fill many roles.
@@lealta1481 You are most certainly missing out.
I'm not familiar with Townsend's acting ability but know for a fact that casting Viggo was the best choice even with the 'A' listers mentioned that were up for consideration.
As many have stated, it's nearly impossible to imagine other Actors filling this role, being so perfectly suited to Viggo, but it's also not hard to imagine that casting Russel Crowe as Aragorn would result in an almost completely different movie.
Viggo has an understated passion and focus and with his outdoorsman lifestyle, a natural fit in that regard as well. You can see this intensity in portraying the Master Chief in G.I. Jane.
I agree that even being a Númenórean, the original lead looked too young, Viggo had that look of having been around yet still youthful though fully mature, and his appearing older than his betrothed fits, because even if they were the same age she's appear more youthful than he or any other Númenórean.
Stuart Townsend played LeStat in The Queen Of The Damned, too pretty for Strider if you ask me.
Actually, since Númenóreans aged about 1/3 the rate of us ordinary humans, Townsend would not have been the wrong age (besides, makeup), but he clearly didn’t want to be there.
Stuart was fired for just wanting to wing it, so they hired Viggo, put him in front of a camera 4 hours latter and told him to just wing it.
It seems really rough on Townsend, I agree, but (at least in this telling) Peter Jackson wasn't feeling it, and in a project so completely led by that man's vision, it seems like the right call. And of course, the proof is there to see.
Well, Viggo did spend enough time with the stunt crew and fight choreographers that he became very good friends with them. IIRC he trained relentlessly. He also had the advantage that he didn't really need a lot of training for much of the physicality and how to move in rural areas (this is something many actors have a problem with). So for much of the role he was a quarter of the way there before even being cast.
@@katnerd6712 legend
The difference is that Viggo didn’t have months to prepare, unlike Townsend who did. If that true that Townsend didn’t want to rehearse, learn sword fighting, or horseback riding on him. Remember in the Fellowship of the Ring when the hobbits were at the inn and Samwise was talking about looking at him? Viggo wasn’t cast then. He had no time.
Townsend looks terrible in that leaked production picture of him dressed as Aragorn.
couldn't imagine it would be any good as it was without Viggo Mortenson. I liked his demeanour in the Prancing Pony scene... I thought he was meant to drive the fear of God into the Hobbits, so they would understand the gravity of the situation. A happy mistake, the right man for the role.
Yeah - I must've seen the first movie half a dozen times (albeit without the knowledge of the recasting) and nothing about Aragorn's introduction seemed out of place to me in any of those viewings. I thought in his first scene he was meant to be ambiguous, as you're seeing him through the eyes of the hobbits who don't know him, but perceive him to be the lesser threat, compared to the ringwraiths.
Viggo Mortenson is like a natural Ranger of the Woods man. And then he turned King. Legendary.
Remember when Viggo deflected a dagger thrown straight at his head? In a universe where Russel Crow or Townsend played Aragorn, we might have had a dead or disfigured Crow/Townsend.
The knife might not have been thrown at whoever's head, they might have deflected it too, even if Viggo was played if it happened multiple times he might have died too, etc, etc, etc. Also, it's more like a knife than a dagger.
Actually, Townsend refused sword training, so they might have had a dead stunt double instead. And that deflect was VERY lucky, I doubt that Crow or Townsend would have made that hit that dagger.
@@sonoftheviper__4304 Pretty sure if it wasnt Viggo there, so many things would have gone differently that theres a good chance the stuntman wouldn't have thrown it straight at the actors head.
@@sonoftheviper__4304 Movie might have looked like shit at a few points though, or maybe not. Idk how filming and all that movie stuff is done so maybe by repetition they can make everything look good without someone practicing much sword work or maybe the guy is pretty athletic but I assume Viggo prafticing made things look better.
You guys all say this like baseball isn't a thing.
Viggo was perfect in the role of Aragorn. Ultimately, the correct decision was made.
Viggo was born for the role. The perfect blend of awesome masculinity and mature thoughtfulness.
The studio's meddling was unfair for sure, but it seems that Townsend was not ready for the role either. He can't control his circumstances, but he can control his actions. So his decision to not do his homework and prepare for the shoot, I believe, shows that at that point in time, he is not mentally prepared or committed to his role.
Something to note: we would have never had the badass scene where Aragorn deflected that dagger out of the air. Apparently that was real, as the dagger wasn't supposed to be thrown at him, but near him, and he would swing and the dagger would be moved into the right spot with cgi. Only it wasn't, and he just smacked it out of the air and they kept it.
I always took the change in Aragon's character to be on purpose. He did seem cold and a bit sharp with the hobbit but I felt that was a planned response as they had just met and Aragon would likely be stand off-ish towards them, but along the journey to Rivendale he slowly warm to them, learnt they weren't evil and built that friendship as they travelled. The more you know I guess
He didn't think they were evil just wondering if they were up to the task. By the time they go to Rivendell he had decided they were as it was not an easy journey off road.
@@anaussie213 possible he might have thought the ring had already corrupted the ring bearer? As he spent his teenger year with Elrond, he no doubt would have been told about the ring and knows of its power to influence the weak willed and such.
Viggo is the GOAT. I love him in pretty much everything he's done, but especially as Aragorn. I'm not big on the whole modern celebrity worship stuff, and there aren't any people I think I would ever be "star-struck" meeting, but I think I would if I ran into Viggo, just because I would feel as though I was meeting Aragorn. 😂
I remember when Viggo was announced, there was a lot of backlash, even my father wasn’t very happy, and he’s a guy that used to read it from the 70s when the majority of people didn’t even know what the book was cause was for a very niche market. But after so many years, and after seeing the incredible work and dedication and results that Viggo had, no one could really see anyone else. Viggo delivered
Just thought of this, who reckons that Townsend could have a part in the upcoming LOTR series? If it were my choice I'd have him act as either Isildur or Anarion. Townsend also has a very "elven" complexion/look, he'd probably fit Gil-Galad or Elros, the First King of Numenor who was in fact half-elven before choosing mortality
I wouldn't hate him playing Feanor if the chance arrives. He looks so much like the most common photo of him. I wouldn't hate that
in my mind elros is also played by hugo weaving, seeing as he's the twin brother of elrond
I think Townsend wouldn't do it, even if he wanted to. He's understandably bitter about the whole affair with LOTR.
@@revanofkorriban1505 Yeah, I can imagine that, given the enormous success of the trilogy, it might haunt him.
Yeah, Townsend definitely has an elven look to him, very youthful. Heck, they can still cast him as Aragorn, as a younger Aragorn who goes around on an adventure to capture Gollum or gets attracted to Arwen for the first time.
Agreed with all this. Viggo Mortensen is absolutely perfect as Aragorn. His performance is magnetic, a high achievement in the business of acting.
The other important thing to consider is that Aragorn was 87 at the time LOTR takes place and a handsome, babyfaced young man isn't gonna properly convey the decades of traveling, fighting and living in the wilderness he'd already been through.
Thank you to everyone who liked this video! Since this is my first video on this channel I never expected so many people to see it. Over the last few months I've been experimenting with making different types of videos on different channels to find out what I'm good at / enjoy making. Since people have responded so positively and asked for more like this I will now be focusing on making more videos about storytelling and entertainment on this channel. Thanks again.
:
This wonderful video, which fills in the back story to Viggo's ultimate casting, was sorely needed by those who love the LotR trilogy, and Tolkien's tomes. Your very first video (remarkable!) is the reason I am now a subscriber. Keep going! :D
Thank you. Good story. However, the final reason was that Stuart trashed his hotel room in a spoiled rage, then took off on a quad-bike on set at Mt Victoria just before a scene.
He was truly behaving like a spoiled dick. We're all now rather sick of sitting on this for 22 years.
@@DocTinfoil Foolish of him. Show business personnel have very long memories for horror stories on set like the one you have just shared.
I definitely see that age thing, if Aragorn is 87 Viggo gives the character that appearance of age while also having that Numenor long life vigor. Especially in the Coronation scene, it just works.
Plus you know, Townsend didn't have the emotional maturity to respect Jackson, his fellow actors or the crew.
The age difference between Viggo and Liv is actually advantageous: it highlights Aragorn's mortality which is pivotal to Arwen's story.
I’m so happy Viggo was chosen. He’s perfect as Aragorn.
Love Viggo… can’t imagine the movies without him.
Although it would be interesting to see Crowe in this role, I think Viggo is a perfect choice, because he is the character actor. In every movie he's in, he looks and act differently. When I watch Eastern Promises, or Hidalgo, Or Green Book, or Captain Fantastic, or The Road, I don't see Aragorn. I don't even see Viggo. I only see that character. Crowe is too big personality , that even in The Mummy (with Tom Cruise) , I only see the same old Crowe.He would be great in the battle scenes, but I could never see him being that humble to kneel before the Hobbits, saying "You bow to no one."
I worked on the LoTR production as part of the mocap development team and I didn't know about that. Very interesting. What I mainly remember was the debate over how graphic to go with the violence. As I recall Patrick Runyon was really enthused about the idea of going full Braveheart on the production but obvious trade-offs in terms of box office with a possible R rating. Well that and the secrecy. We did some of the initial mocap work in our facility in Marietta Georgia for Biomechanics/Giant Studios. They flew in a couple of martial artists from New Zealand with foam prop blades for the prcs and elves. The original elf blade design was different from what is used in the film, but the orc shields and swords were pretty close to what you see in the films. Regardless, the talent was pretty much done up in hockey gear and they had 3 different types of props with them. 1 set had metal cores, another fiberglass, and then some carved wood props that I think were more intended for show and for some of out DA team to reference and look at. By the end of the initial capture session the wood ones were the only ones left. They had been going at each other sp hard in the capture sessions that the props with fiberglass backing had all shattered and the ones built around the metal framing were all warped and twisted. I was the biggest and strongest person on set and so it ended up being my job to constantly bend out the orc shield so ot kept its shape.
I wasn't part of the away team, so no clue what they used once they got the New Zealand capture studio up and running. I was relatively new at the time all of this happened so that is probably why I didn't know about the cast changeover. Well that and it was not really in our purview. Like I said very secretive about everything. I had to destroy and dispose of all the props after they left. Always regretted not just keeping them because it was sort of an interesting bit of the production process and showed how hard these guys went at it. However, as I said I was new and I didn't want to take any risks with my job or the project.
Townsend really did not look right for the role. I've seen the photos, he looked way too much like somebody else dressed him. I know that's a redundant statement for a character in a movie, but the whole point of a good costume for a character is that the character looks like they belong in those clothes.
Townsend will know deep down to this day that he lost the film role of a lifetime due to his own arrogance and stupidity. I mean, to tell Peter Jackson you are not going to train and you will wing it on the day, i am surprised with such diva behavior Townsend was still there an hour after making the statement.
I know! PJ finally famously let the cast and crew know that there was room for only one who on the set, and that would be his own! Reportedly, on the set, Viggo, reportedly, got the nickname No Ego Viggo because he absolutely was a trouper and was so down-to-earth.
I read somewhere that Elijah Wood was quite intimidated by him and very upset that Townsend had been let go from the role. It reached the point where PJ called Viggo in and discussed it with him and suggested he might invite Elijah out to a solo dinner just to talk to him one-on-one and break the ice. Apparently, it worked because all the younger actors fell in love with Viggo and all are very close to him to this day.
Viggo was the perfect Aragorn. There's a lot of sadness and self doubt to the character that Viggo could put into the character without even trying.
Viggo is magnificent actor. I must say he is one of the best in Hollywood. Every movie I watched because of him being able to understand the character of his role and bring it to the screen in a perfect way.
8:08 IS MY MANS TESTING THE BALANCE POINT OF HIS PROP SWORD OFF CAMERA?
GOD THIS WAS THE RIGHT GUY
Casting in lotr movies in general worked out just so well in my opinion. I wanted some characters to be portrayed differently, like Denethor, but I don't think that was the actors fault, as he was playing the character how he was told to play it. Overall the casting was so good
If Townsend got this role all we could talk about would be consistency of squirrel droppings
thanks for the video! i feel sad for Mr. Townsend, but I think even he would agree that Viggo was simply born for this role. Besides, he's now only a few years older than Viggo was when he filmed LotR. His 'Aragorn' role might still be waiting out there!
I am *SUPER GLAD that studio didn't giving us this youngster for the Aragorn... and the Actuall ARAGORN that they giving us - is probably ONE OF THE VERY BEST decisions they did about this movie and the cast. This is a *PERFECT Aragorn* that movie had.. quite Literally.
I could see Stewart Townsend as Legolas. But as Aragorn? Nah, they struck gold woth Viggo.
It's crazy how serendipitously it all turned out. Aragorn's casting is among some of the best fitting I can think of.
I'm glad things worked out the way they did. But imagine being Stuart and seeing what could have been.. I'm not sure anyone could ever let that go
Like being the fifth beatle
kinda like the 'get some, GET SOME' guy from full metal jacket.
It gets even worse, he also lost a role in Thor at the last minute. Not the lead that time but still.
@@LegendLoop really? Wow, maybe it will become a thing for this guy, always nearly gets a job.. then doesn't lol! I'm not actually familiar with him, has he been in much since?
@@bucky7162 I was just gonna say, sounds like he was the "Pete Best" of LOTR.
Thank you for sharing this fascinating story about one of my favorite film trilogies of all time.
Speaking with many years of rose tinted glasses, I think this trilogy had some of the best casting any films can hope for!
Viggo was the perfect casting choice..like you cannot unsee him. Viggo was also responsible for many of our sexual awakenings 🤣
What does that mean
@@nostalgicbliss5547 That he's hot in the role.
@@Vigandun oh okay. I thought sexual awakening meant something else
@@nostalgicbliss5547 I mean, it means more like the first sexual feelings towards someone
@@nostalgicbliss5547 "sexual awakening" means the first time you feel attracted to someone sexually.
Viggo is one of my favourite actors in the business today the man embodies his characters and makes u believe he's the person 100% imo
I can’t even imagine being casted for Aragorn, and not wanting to train with swords, horses and the elvish language for the part. Like dude, don’t you want to be the best version of yourself that you can be? I also can’t imagine another Aragorn that’s not Vigo. He is seriously such a beast.
I'm glad Viggo got the role. Not to cast shade, but I really wonder what they were thinking with originally choosing Townsend. He looks younger than his years would suggest - the picture showing him at 27, I guessed 23. I think this last moment change probably saved the movies, honestly.
At first, I thought Viggo looked too young and handsome for the part of Strider/Aragorn/Elessar, but after the Prancing Pony scene, the flight through the wilderness, and then the Weathertop fight scene, he had won my respect, and that of the Hobbits in the movie as well, and that respect increased as the trilogy went on, culminating in the crowning scene, where he becomes a true king.
I grew up 1 hour away from where Hobbiton is in NZ, LOTR makes me proud to be a kiwi.
SO glad they didn't cast Crowe. Can't stand the man or his ego. As for Townsend, the arrogance of thinking you could just wing it with sword fights and horse riding action scenes - incredible. Then HE had the front to feel hard done by when he was fired! Viggo is the perfect choice. He has the ruggedness, the cat-like way of moving, the heft to his way of talking. Well done Peter!
Can't imagine anyone else playing Aragorn,
He was the main attraction of the Trilogy
I would have loved to have been an extra in one of these films. Sadly, I was too busy being a U.S. Marine and couldn't get away.
Semper fi marine
Amazing video, thank you for diving into that story!
Viggo Mortensen was born to play Aragorn. 💯🔥
I disagree. I believe he did perfect in the inn. Like someone almost frantic to press home to the Hobbits what was really after them.
I know that character so well. I don’t even want to imagine a universe where someone else is Aragorn.
Trying to imagine Russel Crowe in the role. I think he could've pulled it off half decently, but already knowing him as other similar characters would've been distracting. Only Vigo could've been as perfect as he was.
While I'm sad for the 1st actor, I'm glad Viggo was there to take up the mantle. He really embraced the role and his crew!
Viggo Mortensen was perfect casting and he is a fascinating human being.
Man, I honestly can’t consider anyone else playing Aragorn other than Viggo. What a blessing in disguise this was
They made a good move. They were correct about age. That kid faced individual would have to be beyond unbelievable to outdo Viggo, he was phenomenal. I like Russell Crowe but I think this was it.
Indeed. Crowe is awesome, but not for Aragorn.
I love Townsend but I’ve only ever seen him in two movies, and neither one did he strike confidence in. He didn’t have the aura. Maybe as Legolas, but not as Aragorn. Poor bugger
I heard that Daniel Day-Lewis was at one point considered for the role. That’s another person who I think could have pulled off a great Aragorn (see him in Last of the Mohicans, you'll see what I mean).
He was offered the role THREE times by Jackson. I'm so sorry he turned it down. I would have preferred Daniel Day Lewis in the role.
The instant they mentioned him and showed his picture, I independently thought “way to young”. Read the book, he is not supposed to be young, but 87. He was somewhat unkempt and people of the town of Bree looked down on him, and called him “strider” because he was always walking around in the countryside. He was never supposed to look like some millennial trust fund baby, but someone who was seemingly wise beyond his years and very experienced in the world.
Viggo killed it. Cant even imagine another actor playing that role.
I have a question. Did Viggo Mortensen know about Njorl's Saga?
I cannot imagine The Lord of the Rings without Viggo.
I knew since i got the extended edition when it first came out about the original Aragorn, but never who it was for sure. That’s interesting. It must have messed with Townsend’s head a bit, to see the phenomenon play out.
Must have been brutal, id rationalise that maybe with one character out of place it wouldn't work... but lets face it even if Aragorn was slightly funky this movie would still be top tier.
@@click8708 Yeah, really tough on Townsend. It's a shame for the guy, but I wouldn't swap out Viggo for all the tea in China.
wow Ruseel Crow really dropped the ball, but it was meant to be. He is sick but damn, Viggo IS Aragorn.
It's important to remember that Viggo was anxious on accepting the role since he hasn't read the books but it turns out Viggo's son did. Henry convinced him to do the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
I personally think Townshend would've been wonderful. Except... Viggo and Liv Tyler make such an amazing duo :) **sob** That's mostly where I couldn't imagine him gone.
Russell Crowe will ace the character Aragorn. He has gravitas, intensity and aura that befits Aragorn. But Viggo never disappoint and he delivers his own version of Aragorn perfectly. Salute and respect to both actors. Like them both. But the timing to.play a character that will eventually become a culture icon is for Viggo. Anyways, Russell will always be remembered as Maximus...
Love both film...
I’m just glad we got Viggo Mortensen as Aragon. He was about the best person for the role, period.