As a seasoned gamer with a knack for diving deep into lore and behind-the-scenes trivia, I must say, discovering the real-life face of the King of the Dead from “The Lord of the Rings” was an unexpected delight. Paul Norell, a British actor born in 1952 in London, has quite the impressive resume, with roles spanning from the Herc-Xenaverse to Power Rangers. It’s fascinating to think that the same man who played Falafel and Supreme Commander Fowler Birdy is also the King John of Netflix’s “The Royal Treatment.”
In a different phrasing, here’s how you could express your statement:
I’m a big fan, here! Norell is a British thespian who hails from London, born in 1952. His journey in Hollywood started way back, with a notable role as the King of the Dead in 2003, but his career was already brimming with success even before this, marked by appearances in some iconic cult TV series.
In Middle-earth, Norell portrayed not only the King of the Dead but also an unacknowledged Easterling soldier who fought for Sauron’s forces in the War of the Ring. These fighters were from Rhûn, a region on the eastern continent of Tolkien’s Middle-earth that is anticipated to play a significant role in “The Rings of Power” Season 2. Although he appeared as the King of the Dead in “The Return of the King,” Norell’s Easterling character was actually featured in “The Two Towers.” This aligns with the narrative, as Frodo, Sam, and Gollum encountered a group of Easterlings during that film when they witnessed these soldiers entering Mordor through the Black Gate.
Who Is the King of the Dead?
In Peter Jackson’s adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” particularly the extended versions, King of the Dead and his spectral horde play a more significant part compared to their role in the original story. In these movies, Aragorn (played by Viggo Mortensen) uses his sword Andúril to control Norell’s character, and later summons a fearsome green army that sweeps across the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, overwhelming all opposition and turning the tide of battle from certain defeat to triumph.
In the novels, the cursed fortress plays a less prominent part (yet remains crucial), and Aragorn indeed ventures into the Paths of the Departed to rally the spectral warriors for his cause. However, it’s noteworthy that he never engages the king head-on. Instead, as spectral figures gather around Aragorn and his allies, seemingly shrouded in mist, Aragorn summons them to join him in fulfilling their oath. Interestingly, one of the two mentions of “The King of Shadows” comes from the local folk who address Aragorn by this title as he marshals the sinister horde for battle.
When Aragorn calls forth the Army of the Undead, a voice echoes in response, but it remains unclear who is speaking. The character of Norell only appears explicitly in the story when Aragorn dismisses the army. In “The Return of the King” book, it’s described that “And as Aragorn dismissed the army, the King of the Dead emerged before the troops, shattering his spear and casting it aside. He then bowed deeply, turned away, and the entire grey horde disappeared like a fog dissipating under a strong gust.”
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-08-06 14:59