“It might well make me decide to pack my bags”: Daniel Day-Lewis Had Very Harsh Words For $5.8B Franchise After Being Offered Lead Role By Peter Jackson

Daniel Day-Lewis used to be one of the most renowned personalities of his time, thanks to his exceptional performances on-screen. Although famous for playing Abraham Lincoln in the 2012 blockbuster Lincoln, the now-retired actor has had his fair share of decisions that made him miss out on being part of the biggest and most valuable franchises of all time.

Daniel Day-Lewis

Yet, it seems that the 66-year-old star does not regret it, considering his very harsh words for the $5.8 billion franchise after being offered the lead role in it multiple times by director Peter Jackson.

Daniel Day-Lewis Turned Down $5.8 Billion Franchise Because He Found It ‘Boring’

Daniel Day-Lewis rejected The Lord of the Rings franchise

Listed among the most famous and filthy wealthy franchises of all time, The Lord of the Rings saga can induce every feeling in its audience, but that of boredom. Yet, it seems that the renowned Lincoln star, Daniel Day-Lewis is of a different opinion on the matter.

As it turns out, the King of Method acting was offered to play the role of Aragorn in the hit novel-based-movie trilogy by Peter Jackson, and not just once at that! But the actor wasn’t so keen on working with big-budget studio franchises in general. Revealing in an interview the reason behind rejecting the franchise, he said,
“I wouldn’t really want to be involved in making films I wouldn’t want to go and see…”

He further went on to indirectly call the movie series ‘boring’ because he couldn’t understand the plot.
“When I’m working on something I’m intrigued by, I’m never bored. I’m incapable of being bored. And if I found myself working on a film and during the course of that work I was bored because I didn’t really know what the hell I was involved in, I would find that infinitely demoralizing and it might well make me decide to pack my bags.”

But despite him turning down the role, it took much effort by Peter Jackson as the part was handed around to different people before finally landing on its rightful owner: Viggo Mortensen.

Other Actors Who Were Considered For The Role Of Aragorn

Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in a still from The Lord of the Rings

After Daniel Day-Lewis, the part of Aragorn was passed on to Russell Crowe. But although fascinated by it and keen on doing it, the actor had to give up on the role because of other prior commitments, and also because he had only just kept his sword and armor down after shooting Gladiator. A good choice indeed, but to each his own.

Then came Vin Diesel into the picture, who auditioned for the role despite not being offered it. However, while he would’ve done a remarkable job at it, he wasn’t selected as his portrayal would’ve been different than Aragorn’s characterization in the books, no matter how hard they tried to change it. For the next potential backup, the part was offered to Nicolas Cage. But he, too, turned it down because of ‘family obligations’.

Next came Stuart Townsend, who was actually cast and even rehearsed and trained for 2 months before getting fired without being paid the day before the shoot began just because the director realized a bit too soon that the Irish actor was rather young for the role back then. Hard feelings for Jackson? Yes, but it’s kind of understandable here.

Lastly, Aragorn finally found its rightful place with Viggo Mortensen, who did an incredibly remarkable job at portraying the character in the novel-based movie trilogy – one that can’t be forgotten irrespective of the passage of time.

You can stream The Lord of the Rings trilogy on HBO Max.