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Did Christopher Lee want Saruman?
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 portrayed Saruman?
2000s: The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars Lee played Saruman in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
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.
How did Christopher Lee meet Tolkien?
I did meet him [Tolkien], very briefly, in the Fifties. It was in a pub that he used to go to in Oxford, called the Eagle and Child. I was there having a beer and I was completely overcome when he walked in.
Is Saruman bad?
Thinking he could gain it for himself or become Sauron’s servant alone, Saruman allied Isengard with Mordor in the War of the Ring, in which he was defeated. He is one of the few characters in Middle-earth who is morally “grey” – being neither a genuine servant of evil nor an agent of good.
Why was Christopher Lee cast as 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. He is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the world’s tallest actors (6’5″).
Who played Saruman in The Lord of the Rings?
Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee CBE (1922 – 2015) was an English actor, who portrayed Saruman in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, The Hobbit film trilogy, and read the The Children of Húrin audiobook.
Who is Christopher Lee and what did he do?
Christopher Lee made a name for himself playing monsters with the horror studio Hammer in the 1960s and 70s. He continued to perform action scenes in his 80s and also continued to land powerful roles such as Saruman in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, here are 10 things you might not know about Christopher Lee.
Was Lee Mack ever called back to play Saruman?
Lee always envisioned himself as being Gandalf, so when he read that Peter Jackson would be adapting his bedside book, he immediately called his agent. Although he realized he was too old to play Gandalf, he read the part. He did not get it, but was called back as Saruman instead.
Why was Saruman’s scouring of the Shire never filmed?
Author J.R.R. Tolkien originally had Saruman and Grima Wormtongue take over The Shire before Frodo and company returned to save their home and overthrew them. It’s understandable why Saruman’s scouring of the Shire wasn’t filmed because it would have fatigued audiences who already invested three hours in the main story.