Cate Blanchett Says ‘No One Got Paid Anything’ on Lord of the Rings Cast

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Summary

  • Cate Blanchett barely got paid for her role in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, receiving only free sandwiches and elf ears.
  • Blanchett signed on for the films to work with Peter Jackson and didn’t receive any backend revenue.
  • Despite the lack of financial benefits, fans can look forward to a new Lord of the Rings movie directed by Andy Serkis in 2026.

As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of Middle Earth, I find myself both captivated and dismayed by the revelation of Cate Blanchett’s experiences during the making of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. On one hand, it is awe-inspiring to witness the depth of an actress’s dedication, willing to forgo financial compensation for the chance to work with a visionary director like Peter Jackson. Yet, on the other hand, it is disheartening to learn that such a talented artist was not fairly compensated for her significant contributions to one of the most iconic film franchises in history.

Although Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy is now widely celebrated by fans, winning a total of 17 Oscars and grossing nearly $900 million at the box office, it was not a glamorous experience for the cast during filming. Notably, Cate Blanchett, who portrayed Galadriel in the trilogy, disclosed that she received minimal compensation for her role in the movies. Blanchett’s Elven character sets the stage with her narration in The Fellowship of the Ring’s opening scene, and appears in various scenes throughout the franchise.

Cate Blanchett made an appearance on ‘Watch What Happens Live’ to publicize her role as the lead in Eli Roth’s upcoming film adaptation of ‘Borderlands’. During the broadcast, she was queried about which movie had brought her the largest paycheck. As she pondered, the host speculated that ‘The Lord of the Rings’ likely provided the Australian actress with the biggest earnings. However, Blanchett swiftly corrected this assumption, disclosing the true financial rewards she received from ‘The Lord of the Rings’. She stated:

“Are you kidding me? No, no one got paid anything to do that movie.”

In a subsequent question, the host inquired if Ms. Blanchett had any financial involvement in the movie (receiving a portion of its earnings, a growing trend), but she swiftly dismissed that notion. Instead, what truly motivated her was the opportunity to collaborate with director Peter Jackson, a desire that led her to join the trilogy.

As a long-time film enthusiast who has spent years working behind the scenes in the industry, I can confidently say that my most memorable experience was collaborating with the director of “Braindead.” This opportunity came to me years ago, before many of today’s trends and movements took hold.

A new Lord of the Rings Movie is Coming

More than two decades have passed since the release of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” in cinemas (making you feel nostalgic, perhaps?), and fans continue to be captivated by Peter Jackson’s extraordinary trilogy, despite the varying opinions on the “Hobbit” series and Amazon Studios’ prequel series “The Rings of Power”. Fans remain eager for additional installments in the film franchise. Fortunately, their wishes are being granted, as a new “Lord of the Rings” movie titled “The Hunt for Gollum” is underway. This film will be directed by Andy Serkis and will feature the return of Peter Jackson as an executive producer. The focus of the movie is on the corrupted hobbit character, Gollum (portrayed by Serkis himself), with further plot details yet to be disclosed. Currently in its early stages of production, “The Hunt for Gollum” is expected to hit theaters in 2026. This film will mark the beginning of a new wave of movies set within J.R.R Tolkien’s universe.

2023 saw the announcement of Warner Bros.’ intentions to launch a fresh series of “Lord of the Rings” films. Yet, specifics about the upcoming movies remain undisclosed. In the meantime, as we eagerly await updates, the “Lord of the Rings” universe is expanding its presence on TV. The second season of “The Rings of Power” is scheduled to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on August 29 and hints at the emergence of the famous antagonist Sauron.

Peter Jackson’s
The Lord of the Rings
trilogy is streaming on Prime Video.

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2024-08-08 20:02