Before winning an Oscar for his role in Gladiator, Russell Crowe was a sought-after actor in the late 90s. During this time, director Peter Jackson was casting for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Crowe revealed that he had a meeting with Jackson about playing Aragorn but ultimately turned down the role. In a recent interview with British GQ, Crowe explained that he felt the studio, not Jackson, was making the casting decisions. He mentioned that during his phone conversation with Jackson, he didn’t feel the director was trying hard to persuade him to join the project. Crowe sensed that Jackson already had someone else in mind for the role and didn’t want to stand in the way.
In a previous discussion in 2019, Crowe mentioned that he could sense from Jackson’s voice that he wasn’t the director’s top choice for the role of Aragorn. Despite turning down the role, Crowe has no regrets and believes that Viggo Mortensen, who eventually played Aragorn, was the perfect fit for the character.
Crowe also shared his reservations about appearing in Gladiator 2, the sequel to his most famous film. The movie is set to be released on November 22, but Crowe will not be part of it as his character died in the first installment.
It’s interesting to see how Crowe reflects on his past decisions and the reasons behind them. His insights provide a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of casting decisions in Hollywood. Despite missing out on certain roles, Crowe’s successful career speaks to his talent and versatility as an actor. As fans eagerly await the release of Gladiator 2, they can appreciate Crowe’s candidness about his past roles and the projects he chooses to be a part of.