Beatles wanted to do "Lord of the Rings" in 1960s

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=7&id=208832 ^ | 29 March 2002

[The_Expatriate]

Beatles wanted to do "Lord of Rings" in 1960s

WELLINGTON — John Lennon wanted to play the grasping, thieving creature Gollum in a 1960s Beatles version of the "Lord of the Rings," New Zealand movie director Peter Jackson told Wellington's Evening Post newspaper.

Jackson, whose own version of the first book in the fantasy trilogy, "The Fellowship of the Ring" won four Oscars this week, told the newspaper that the Beatles plan fell flat when author J.R.R. Tolkien rejected the plan.

Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, who was to play the hero Frodo in the movie, told Jackson about the plans at the Academy Awards in Hollywood, the Post reported.

"It was something John was driving and Tolkien still had the film rights at that stage but he didn't like the idea of the Beatles doing it. So he killed it," Jackson told the newspaper.

George Harrison was to play the wise wizard Gandalf who advises the hobbit Frodo in his quest to destroy the evil golden ring at the center of the epic tale of good versus evil, one of the most popular books of the 20th century.

Ringo Starr was to play Frodo's devoted sidekick Sam, while Lennon would take the part of the hobbit-like creature that tracks the heroes throughout the story, trying to get his hands on the powerful ring.

"There probably would've been some good songs coming off the album," Jackson said of the Beatles' plan.

Jackson is currently working on the second film of the trilogy for AOL Time Warner Inc's New Line Cinema.

"The Two Towers" is due out in December and the last film, "The Return of the King," will follow next year. (Reuters News)

[irishtenor]

Ping. What do you think?

[The_Expatriate]

Should I have included a "Barf Alert"?

I hope you'll let the other patrons of the Green Dragon Inn know just how lucky we were that the Fellowship didn't travel east on a yellow submarine.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Actually, they should have gotten Yoko Ono to play Gollum. She's a natural for the role. George as Gandalf?! Please.

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh we have seen this rumor! and yes we are thankful it never happened!

I am a Beatles fan, but [shudder]

Thanks for the ping...

[HairOfTheDog]

Oh yes John would have made a better Gandalf! eeek.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Actually, I was thinking that all four of them would play the roles of Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin. Spike Milligan could have played Gandolph, while Peter Sellers took the role of Aragorn. High times. 8^)

[HairOfTheDog]

Yes, that is a much better way to NOT do it. :~D

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Too bad the Pythons never took a stab at it. As brilliant as Holy Grail was, the thought of them doing LOTR is staggering.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Beatles wanted to do "Lord of the Rings" in 1960s

OH - MY - GOD!!

[HairOfTheDog]

hehehehehe - ABG's Monty Python idea is not bad ;~D

[Revolting cat!]

On a related theme they (the Beatles) also wanted to do the Monkees telebision show. Can you just imagine the potential for disaster there? Thank goodness, we managed to persuade the real Monkees to do it!

[Penny1]

Aaaauuuuuggghhhhh!!!!!!!

That about sums it up....boy am I glad Tolkien nixed that idea...

[Ward Smythe]

I can't quite describe the horrible images running though my brain...and I've never done acid...

[sneakers]

I think Tolkien had a lot of common sense. (Thank God!)