Brian Cox Wished He Was In The Lord Of The Rings Movies, And He Dropped An F-Bomb When Telling Me How He Felt During Their Production

by

As a seasoned gamer and film enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the richly detailed worlds of Middle-earth, I can confidently say that Brian Cox‘s addition to The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is nothing short of a dream come true. Having grown up watching him grace our screens with his commanding presence and captivating voice, I found it a tad envious when he was left out of Peter Jackson’s original trilogy. Yet, as they say, better late than never.

A truly sweet gift is the joy that results whenever venerated actor Brian Cox uses his rich voice to swear about something. Today, I’m pleasantly reminded of that fact, as the 2024 movie schedule finally marks the realization of the former Succession cast member’s dream to be a part of Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth Saga. TopMob recently spoke to him about his past desire to join Jackson’s live-action films, and Cox delivered a choice F-bomb while recalling his feelings amid those films’ production.

Mr. Cox’s long-cherished aspiration was realized as he was selected for the part of Helm Hammerhand in The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. Given that the movie is scheduled to be released, I had the opportunity to attend Warner Bros.’ press day with director Kenji Kamiyama for his latest anime project. During this occasion, I took the chance to explore Cox’s enthusiasm about becoming part of the cast. When inquired about his desire to join and the character he would have preferred to portray, Cox shared the following:

I must confess, I longed to be part of that grand journey, if only as a King among the dwarves. I harbored such dreams, you understand. Finding one’s role can sometimes be elusive, especially when opportunities like that never materialize. I remember thinking, “Everyone else is venturing off to New Zealand for The Lord of the Rings, yet no one has asked me.” So, I decided to carry on with my routine work. But then this unexpected opportunity arose, and it was a truly remarkable blessing. And the cherry on top was collaborating with Philippa Boyens, who was not only a fantastic producer but also a trusted partner in the creative process.

In our review of “The War of the Rohirrim,” I noted that Kamiyama-san’s action anime was significantly boosted by the casting of actors like Brian Cox and Miranda Otto. Just a year prior, audiences had witnessed Cox’s heartfelt portrayal as a bespoke Santa in “This Christmas.” Now, they can appreciate the Emmy winner using his deep, resonant voice to bring life to the kind but firm last king of Rohan.

Given Cox’s long-standing aspiration to join Peter Jackson’s original Lord of the Rings trilogy, it seems fitting that he landed a role in War of the Rohirrim. Admittedly, if I were an actor in his shoes, I wouldn’t help but feel a pang of envy towards those fortunate enough to have been invited to be part of such a remarkable project.

It’s quite likely that many other artists share this sentiment, and there are numerous instances where performers didn’t get selected for roles. For instance, Sam Neill was not part of the cast in “Lord of the Rings.” However, it’s important to clarify that the offensive language I mentioned wasn’t akin to the derogatory comments made by Kieran Culkin’s character on “Succession.

Instead, it was more of a decisive statement that indicated it was past time for new ventures and other film projects (such as Super Troopers, The Bourne Identity, and X2: X-Men United). Just like Mr. Neill, Brian Cox chose to follow his professional journey, and if questioned about Lord of the Rings, he would undoubtedly have an engaging tale to share with curious journalists.

Despite missing the opportunity to portray a dwarf king in The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings trilogies, Brian Cox still fulfilled his dream by playing royalty in The War of the Rohirrim. On a different note, there’s still time for him to take on the role of a James Bond villain. Regardless, I sincerely hope that Hollywood doesn’t overlook Brian Cox’s aspirations and remarkable abilities in future projects.

“The War of the Rohirrim,” part of The Lord of the Rings series, is now playing in cinemas, inviting fans to join Rohan’s defense at the box office. If you wish to experience the entire epic chronologically, I recommend streaming The Hobbit and then The Lord of the Rings films first. Luckily, those with a Max subscription can easily do so.

Read More

2024-12-15 02:38