The much-anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will transport audiences back to the majestic realm of Middle-Earth. In this prequel series, fans will be provided with an epic fantasy story that they have never seen before. The production was estimated to cost Amazon over $1 billion; the first season cost a whopping $462 million.
The success of The Lord of the Rings franchise has brought immense impact on the pop culture industry. While fans are patiently waiting for the upcoming series, let us look back at some of the funniest behind-the-scenes acts from the original trilogy:
Gandalf Hits His Head
Everyone knows how towering Gandalf is, so when he visits Bilbo Baggins at his humble abode for his birthday, the wizard had to adjust. Since Bilbo’s house is made for hobbit-sized people, it was difficult for Gandalf to enter the door.
The old wizard struggled to get through. He bumped into a chandelier, but he quickly steadied it so it would not fall. The moment Gandalf entered the second room, he hit his head on a beam and let out a painful ‘Oh!’
Boromir Is Afraid Of Flying
The cast has to cross a mountain range full of snow in The Fellowship of the Ring. The location is quite remote, so they had to ride a helicopter to cross. Sean Bean does not like flying at all, so he endured walking for two hours to get to the set, according to TheThings.
The cast and crew definitely teased him upon reaching their designated location. He was still in full heavy costume and carrying a shield while trudging in the snow.
Aragorn Was Caught By The Police
Aragorn actor Viggo Mortensen is very dedicated to his craft, and he takes his role in The Lord of the Rings quite seriously that he never breaks out of character, even outside the set.
One time, Mortensen was strolling in the street with his Aragorn costume still on, and he was swinging a sword. The locals who spotted him got alerted, and they immediately called the police. After they discovered who he was, they asked for his autograph and took pictures as well, according to Cheat Sheet.
Gimli Sliced His Finger
John Rhys-Davies, the actor who played Gimli, lost the tip of his middle finger at an early age. In the movie’s special edition extras, the actor explained how he pulled a prank on Peter Jackson, the movie’s director, using a gel tip.
He sliced it open and inserted fake blood in it. He told Jackson that he has hurt himself and when he opened the tip, fake blood splashed everywhere!
Merry Has Allergies
The cloaks are very important part of The Lord of the Rings wardrobe. They vary in style and material, and apparently, one actor reveals he has allergies to its fabric.
Dominic Monaghan, who played Merry, said he has allergic reactions to cloaks. Jackson used to tease Monaghan about this and ask him, “Are we ready to go? Does Dom have his cape on?” (via gatehousemedia)