Why did Christopher Lee play Saruman?
Playing Saruman was more ideal since it involved less fighting and horseback riding. (Ian McKellen and Christopher Lee had a 17 year age difference.) Lee was the only actor of The Lord of the Rings who had ever met Tolkien.
Who played Saruman the White?
Fraser KerrThe Lord of the Rings
Matti PellonpääHobitit
Saruman/Voiced by
Was Sir Christopher Lee friends with Tolkien?
‘” Lee was the only LOTR cast member to actually meet Tolkien, who passed away in 1973, before several of the film’s stars had been born. Lee read the books when they originally were printed in the ’50s, and instantly became a devoted fan.
Is Christopher Lee Saruman?
Lee played Saruman in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. In the commentary, he stated that he had for decades dreamt of playing Gandalf, but that he was now too old, and that his physical limitations prevented him from being considered.
How old was Elijah Wood when filming Lord of the Rings?
Wood was a spritely 18 years old when he touched down in New Zealand to begin filming Rings. And, looking back as a now-40-year-old, he’s amazed by how formative his years filming Rings actually were.
Is Christopher Lee a Knight?
He was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2001, and he was knighted in 2009.
Why was Christopher Lee not Gandalf?
No — in fact, he spoke to Tolkien personally and had his blessing to play the role. The reason he was given the part of Saruman instead, and Sir Ian McKellen played Gandalf, was that by the time filming on Lord of the Rings began, Sir Christopher was felt to be too old for the fighting and horseback-riding sequences.
Who is playing Sauron in Amazon Lord of the Rings?
One of the actors involved in the production was Sala Baker, who played Sauron.
Why was Saruman’s death cut?
Jackson’s reasons for cutting Saruman’s demise were twofold; firstly, to pare down a film that was already testing the limits of how long a person can comfortably sit on a theater seat, and secondly because of the narrative flow.
Did Ian Fleming know Christopher Lee?
Lee was also a step cousin to Bond creator Ian Fleming, his friend and regular golfing partner. He even starred with pre-007 star Pierce Brosnan in the 1993 espionage film Detonator (A.K.A. Death Train).
Are Elijah Wood and Sean Astin friends?
Throughout the filming process, Astin became close friends with several cast members, and became particularly good friends with costar Elijah Wood.