It’s hard to believe it’s been nineteen years since Peter Jackson’s fantasy epic The Lord Of The Rings trilogy hit theatres. The films ruled pop culture, the awards circuit, and the box office during their release in December of 2001, 2002, and 2003. For years, studios and directors alike deemed the books by J.R.R Tolkien “unfilmable.”
Even director Peter Jackson didn’t imagine he’d step up to the task twenty years after finding the world of Middle Earth. The trilogy shot back-to-back in his native New Zealand, which developed an entire industry out of the success of The Lord Of The Rings. Some of the then-unknown actors skyrocketed to super-star status and had numerous opportunities coming their way.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring is a labor of love. Much of the technology didn’t exist before filming. Weta Workshops made all the prosthetics, weapons, miniatures, and about everything else. The series revolutionized the film industry. Read on for 15 things you didn’t know about the making of The Fellowship of the Ring.
15 Bilbo Drops The Ring In Bag End Onto A Magnetic Floor
Bilbo’s (Ian Holm) returns to Bag End and packs his things to leave the Shire. Bilbo gets a little Gollum-y when Gandalf (Ian McKellen) reminds him to leave the Ring. He reluctantly turns his palm and drops the Ring. Sound engineers added the thud in post-production, but the magnet pulls the Ring, symbolizing its weight and power.
14 They Hadn't Completed Gollum's Design So He Looks Different In The Mines Of Moria From His Appearance In The Next Film
Audiences spot Gollum three times during the trilogy’s first installment: in the prologue, voiced by Galadrielle (Cate Blanchett), his torture by the Ringwraiths in Mordor, and his eyes, in the Mines of Moria. WETA hadn’t completed the character’s design, so he changes between the first and second films.
13 Pippin’s Shriek At Bilbo’s Birthday Was Unscripted
Gandalf’s firework display is a highlight of Bilbo’s one-hundred-and-eleventeenth birthday. Merry and Pippin, nosy as always, find their way onto Gandalf’s wagon and unwittingly set a dragon upon Hobbiton. Billy Boyd, who plays Pippin, didn’t expect the prop to make noise, so the shriek audiences hear was his genuine reaction, and it made the final cut.
12 Because Of Its Short Life Expectancy, There Was A VERY Small Window To Get The Shots Of Gandalf And The Moth
When trapped on top of the Tower of Orthanc, Gandalf uses his magic to call upon an ally. A moth flies into the shot and lands on Ian McKellen’s hand. The moth was born right before filming started that day and died right after director Peter Jackson got his shot.
11 The Tallest Of The Fellowship Actors Is John Rhys-Davies Who Plays A Dwarf
One of the most significant challenges while shooting The Lord of the Rings trilogy was balancing the different actors’ heights, depending on the species of Middle Earth they play. Most of the actors who played Hobbits stood between five foot six and seven. The actor John Rhys-Davies, who portrayed the dwarf Gimli, is six-foot-one.
10 Ian McKellen Based The Accent For Gandalf Off Recordings Of J.R.R Tolkien’s Voice
Actor Christopher Lee was the only member of the cast to have met J.R.R Tolkien in real-life. Ian McKellen took inspiration for the voice and accent of Gandalf after listening to recordings of the famed Oxford professor lecturing. It makes sense to model the wisest character on the world’s creator.
9 Andy Serkis Isn’t The Original Voice Of Gollum
In the prologue, audiences see Bilbo stumble upon the Ring in the Misty Mountains. With Andy Serkis not yet cast in the role of Gollum/Smeagol, Dominic Monaghan, who portrayed Merry, stepped up and took on the part. Gollum shrieking after losing the Ring in the final film is Monahan.
8 Some Cast Members Were Severely Allergic To Costume Pieces
While it wasn’t comfortable for the Hobbit actors to undergo the near two-hour process of having their prosthetic feet and ears put on, Orlando Bloom was allergic to the blue contacts he wore to portray Legolas, which explains the inconsistent eye color. John Rhys-Davies broke out in hives, and his face reacted to the full face prosthetic.
7 The Orcs Shrieking In The Pits Of Mordor Are Actually The Screams Of Nocturnal Possums
What to do when there are no real-live Orcs to record for the sound mix? The sound engineers on The Fellowship of the Ring concocted some unique combinations to achieve the varied sounds in the film. For example, the Orcs shrieking in the pits of Mordor are the screams of nocturnal possums.
6 Pre-production For The Shire Took 18 Months Since All The Gardens Are Real
The detail in the Lord of the Rings trilogy is astounding. A fan favorite remains The Shire, with its patchwork of gardens and homes built into hills. How did the team pull off the realism? They constructed around twenty hobbit-holes more than a year before building and tended the gardens.
5 Famous New Zealander Bret McKenzie Has A Small Cameo In Rivendell
The Lord of the Rings became an economy in New Zealand after the release of the first film. Parliament even appointed a Minister to the Rings. Peter Jackson spread the wealth among his fellow Kiwis. Bret McKenzie, from the comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, appears at the Council of Elrond.
4 Sean Bean Hiked To Remote Locations Because Of His Fear Of Flying
No one could coax Sean Bean onto a helicopter, even if it meant saving him a hike up the mountain. Sean Bean despised hiking so much that he woke up extra early, went to hair and makeup, and proceeded to walk the two hours to location as Boromir. His castmates could spot him from the helicopter.
3 The Design Department Got Crafty To Make The Doors To The Mines Of Moria Glow
Much like the sound engineers, the design department found exciting ways to bring aspects of Middle Earth to life. The fellowship arrives at the doors to the Mines of Moria. Once Gandalf speaks the password, the doors illuminate. To produce the glowing effect, the team used the chemical that makes cats’ eyes or road signs glow.
2 Billy Boyd Got Hit 16 Times For The Apple Shot
None of the Hobbits wandered beyond the Shire before the events of The Fellowship. Pippin bemoans Aragorn for his ignorance toward Hobbits’ feeding schedule. He asks about second breakfast and gets hit in the head with an apple: Viggo Mortensen (Aragon) stood behind the camera launching at Boyd’s head, which he enjoyed.
1 Viggo Mortensen Improvised The Scene Where He Deflects The Dagger
The full-body prosthetics required to play chief Uruk-hai Lurtz made it hard for the actor to move and aim. The script called for Lurtz to launch the dagger at the tree. Viggo Mortensen reacted quickly and blocked the blade with his sword. The epic move made it into the final cut.