20 Facts About Tolkien Films to Know Them All
![20 Facts About Tolkien Films to Know Them All](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/0/9/868309_320x180.jpg)
On September 21, 1937, the world had changed. On that date, J.R.R. Tolkien introduced our world to Middle-earth with the publishing of his work The Hobbit. Shortly after, he would take us back to Middle-earth for his trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. People loved the lore, the characters, and (eventually) the movies, games, and eventual TV shows based on his work.
Whether it’s with beloved, earned nostalgia or criticism (looking at you, Hobbit Trilogy), the movies are mostly fondly remembered and encased into the internet in the form of multiple reaction GIFs and memes. Several of the games are celebrated, with folks identifying with the hobbits, elves, or ents aside from regular humans. Then there’s the Rings of Power streaming series that has a production budget that’s higher than most modern militaries. While there is plenty to know about Middle-earth, there is plenty that you probably don’t know.
Here are some facts about the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and the other media that sprang from his vision.
Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood
![CRACKED.COM Tolkien Movies lan McKellen and Elijah Wood never shot a scene together. I never worked with Elijah Wood, McKellen said. He was the main part in Lord of the Rings, but he's smaller than me, so we could never be together.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/3/0/868330.jpg)
David Tennant as Thranduil
![CRACKED.COM Tolkien Movies David Tennant was almost cast as Thranduil in The Hobbit. The part ultimately went to Lee Pace.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/9/868329.jpg)
Christopher Lee
![Tolkien Movies Christopher Lee campaigned to be in the Lord of the Rings films. Не was a huge fan of the books, and even met J.R.R. Tolkien in the flesh. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/8/868328.jpg)
The Rohirrim
![Tolkien Movies A lot of the Rohirrim were women. As not enough men who could ride a horse were found, many riders of Rohan were played by women in fake beards. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/7/868327.jpg)
Ian McKellen's Return
![CRACKED.COM Tolkien Movies lan McKellen almost didn't return as Gandalf for The Hobbit. McKellen was hesitant after all the director changes and other shenanigans the project went through. And then suddenly it was made, and I couldn't resist it.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/7/868317.jpg)
Viggo Mortensen's Tooth
![CRACKED.COM Tolkien Movies Viggo Mortensen chipped a tooth after getting hit in the face with a sword. Не got it fixed at the dentist during his lunch break, then went back to set to finish his scenes.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/3/1/868331.jpg)
Nazgûl
![CRACKED.COM Tolkien Movies The Nazgûl's shriek was created using plastic cups. The basic wail is screenwriter Fran Walsh screaming into a mic, to which the sound of cheap plastic cups scraping against each other was added.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/5/868325.jpg)
Ian McKellen and the Green Screen
![CRACKED.COM Tolkien Movies Shooting the Hobbit trilogy was isolating for lan McKellen. Performing alone in front of a green screen for most of the filming overwhelmed him at times.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/8/868318.jpg)
Gollum
![CRACKED.COM Tolkien Movies Andy Serkis drank Gollum juice. It was a mix of honey, lemon, and ginger to prepare his throat for the punishing work of voicing Gollum.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/0/868320.jpg)
Bilbo Baggins
![Tolkien Movies James McAvoy, Shia LaBeouf, and Daniel Radcliffe were up for Bilbo. In the end, Martin Freeman was cast. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/3/868313.jpg)
Jake Gyllenhaal
![CRACKED.COM Tolkien Movies Jake Gyllenhaal auditioned for Frodo. Не gave an awful audition, as he didn't even know he had to use a British accent.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/1/868321.jpg)
Viggo Mortensen and the Knife
![Tolkien Movies No, a knife wasn't accidentally thrown at Viggo Mortensen. According to crew members, throwing the knife at Mortensen was very intentional, and practice throws were made. It was only him batting it with his sword instead of dodging it that wasn't supposed to happen. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/3/868323.jpg)
Battle of Helm's Deep
![Tolkien Movies The Battle of Helm's Deep in The Two Towers took three and a half months to shoot. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/6/868316.jpg)
Sean Connery
![Tolkien Movies Sean Connery turned down the role of Gandalf. Не was offered a share of the box office, which would've netted him $400 million. Не still said no, because he didn't understand the story. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/2/868322.jpg)
Thranduil's Elk
![Tolkien Movies Thranduil's elk was actually a horse. The horse's name was Moose. The poor animal must have been very confused. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/6/868326.jpg)
Dwarves
![Tolkien Movies The dwarves' wigs and beards in the Hobbit trilogy were made of yak hair. h realojiso AND IMAX DID CRACKED.COM MGM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/9/868319.jpg)
Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug
![CRACKED.COM Tolkien Movies Benedict Cumberbatch's motion capture was kind of pointless. While the animators did use the footage as reference, not a bit of the mocap data actually went into animating Smaug.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/4/868324.jpg)
Aragorn's Horse
![Tolkien Movies Viggo Mortensen bought Aragorn's horse. Не was so impressed by the animal that he bought it from its owners, along with Arwen's horse which he gave to Arwen's stunt rider. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/5/868315.jpg)
Bombur
![Tolkien Movies Bombur doesn't speak a single word in the first two Hobbit films. Stephen Hunter still had to learned Northern Irish dialect, like all the actors playing Dwarves. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/4/868314.jpg)
Gimli and Glóin
![Tolkien Movies Glóin and Gimli use the same axe prop. Which means that Gimli inherited his dad's axe. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/2/868312.jpg)