Cate Blanchett Says Guillermo del Toro’s The Hobbit Would Have Been Special

Cate Blanchett Says Guillermo del Toro's The Hobbit Would Have Been Special

As a die-hard fan who’s seen “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy more times than I can count, I cannot help but wonder what Guillermo del Toro’s unique vision for the franchise would have been like. Cate Blanchett, the enchanting Galadriel herself, hinted at the potential crossover between these two extraordinary directors, and I can only imagine the fantastical gothic world that could have emerged from their collaboration.


Following Peter Jackson’s groundbreaking impact on fantasy filmmaking with the The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he aimed to capture lightning in a bottle again with The Hobbit. Interestingly, Jackson wasn’t initially set to direct the sequel series; Guillermo del Toro was once slated as director. Cate Blanchett, who portrayed Galadriel in both trilogies, recalls del Toro’s involvement with the project and ponders what his distinctive style could have added to the franchise. Known for his dark fairy tale masterpieces like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Devil’s Backbone,, Cronos,, and Blade II, del Toro would likely have infused the Lord of the Rings saga with his enchanting gothic flair.

Cate Blanchett shared her thoughts with GQ magazine, reflecting on some of her most memorable roles throughout her career. During this conversation, she reminisced about her significant part in ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ and was questioned about her experiences working on ‘The Hobbit.’ The interviewer asked if she had ever collaborated with Guillermo del Toro during his short tenure on the film. Delays from the studio forced del Toro to depart the project, leaving him by May 2010, a situation which Blanchett experienced firsthand as she joined the cast while del Toro was still attached. Intriguingly hinting at what might have been, Blanchett mused:

As a passionate cinephile, I find both of these directors extraordinary, each with their distinct style. Their work is uniquely theirs, crafting captivating worlds that are truly one-of-a-kind. Combining their visions would have resulted in something equally enchanting, yet distinctly different.

Cate Blanchett Joined The Lord of the Rings Because She Loves Horror Movies

Cate Blanchett Says Guillermo del Toro's The Hobbit Would Have Been SpecialCate Blanchett Says Guillermo del Toro's The Hobbit Would Have Been SpecialCate Blanchett Says Guillermo del Toro's The Hobbit Would Have Been Special

Initially, it may appear that there’s no correlation between horror films and “The Lord of the Rings.” Apart from the well-known “Frodo jump scare,” Peter Jackson’s trilogy is not generally considered scary. However, prior to his fame as the director who won 18 Oscars for adapting J.R.R Tolkien’s novels into films, Jackson was renowned for his work in horror directing.

Cate Blanchett expressed in an interview that she was eager to collaborate with Peter Jackson on The Lord of the Rings films, as she is a big admirer of his horror movie collection, having particularly enjoyed his 1992 film “Braindead” (also known as “Dead Alive”). In her conversation with GQ, Blanchett elaborated further on her fondness for Peter Jackson’s horror movies. The actress expressed her enthusiasm by saying she was smitten with them.

“I collaborated with Peter Jackson, a director whose work, admiration, and affinity for the macabre resonated deeply with me, given my upbringing on horror films. To me, his creations like Braindead were not just frightening but also amusing, despite their unsettling nature.”

Cate Blanchett isn’t just a character in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy; instead, she sets the entire series into motion. In the first movie, “The Fellowship of the Ring,” Galadriel delivers a spoken account of Middle Earth’s history, describing the creation of the rings and the emergence of Sauron. Initially, Blanchett mentioned that this now-iconic voiceover was part of the script from the start. However, she also shared that she didn’t fully grasp the significance and enduring impact it would have on the fanbase until later. She put it this way:

“In my initial understanding, it seems like the opening scene or event wasn’t clear to me at first. This is because, when we start reading a script, our focus is on the story itself, not necessarily on identifying the beginning.”

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2024-08-10 00:33