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Beatles Wanted to Do Rings Film in 1960s
Thu Mar 28, 8:30 PM ET
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - 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 (news - web sites) 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 (news - web sites) in Hollywood, the Post reported.
"It was something John was driving and J.R.R. 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.
I had a sudden vision of the Bee Gees and several extras playing the Fellowship, running in the Mines of Moria while "Stayin' Alive" plays in the background. Not a pretty sight!
__________________ No, you are not paranoid. Everyone really IS out to get you!
I have known about this one for a while. I don't think it was ever supposed to secret, somehow it just managed to avoid becoming common knowlege
What is surprising is if this is the first Jackson had heard of it. After working on the trilogy for so long I would have thought he would have known of the beatles project before now.
Last edited by omedon; 29th March 2002 at 06:40 AM..
Originally posted by omedon I have known about this one for a while. I don't think it was ever supposed to secret, somehow it just managed to avoid becoming common knowlege
What is surprising is if this is the first Jackson had heard of it. After working on the trilogy for so long I would have thought he would have known of the beatles project before now.
*shudders* When I first read this quote, for some reason, my mind leapt for the connection from the Beatles to Jackson with Jackson being Michael Jackson, which in turn inspired another quick leap remembering when MJ had purchased the rights to most of the Beatles' copyrights and properties, which then imagined what would have happened if the Beatles did have the rights to do the movie, just broke up before they actually did it (Yoko as the Dark One anyone?)... so, years later, MJ finds that contract in his Vault, and decides he wants to do the movie!
And suddenly, we end up with a LotR version of 'The Wiz'!
Sometimes, I worry about the state of my mind... I really, really do!
Oh, yeah... *runs off and hides from the inevitable death wishes going to be slung his way!*
Originally posted by omedon I have known about this one for a while. I don't think it was ever supposed to secret, somehow it just managed to avoid becoming common knowlege
What is surprising is if this is the first Jackson had heard of it. After working on the trilogy for so long I would have thought he would have known of the beatles project before now.
I'd be very surprised if PJ has only just learned of this. Far more likely, is that in the wake of the Oscars, and with eight months before the release of "The Two Towers", he and/or the media are popping out "fresh" tidbits of trivia to keep the movie project in the public consciousness.
You think that people hated this version of Elrond? I wonder what they would have said if they'd seen him in those sparkly glasses and giant platform shoes as played by Elton John...
"Ever since I was a young boy,
I protected Middle Earth..."
"I hate this place. This zoo. This prison. This reality, whatever you want to call it, I can't stand it any longer. It's the smell, if there is such a thing. I feel saturated by it. I can taste your stink and every time I do, I fear that I've somehow been infected by it"
That was where the insipiration for "HELP!" came from.
They couldn't do the LotR thing so, instead, they throw a ring on Ringo's finger and have him chased all over the place while he tries to get it of and destroy it. There are many parallels.
Check it out, not for the LotR bits but just 'cause it was a gas.
*shudders* When I first read this quote, for some reason, my mind leapt for the connection from the Beatles to Jackson with Jackson being Michael Jackson, which in turn inspired another quick leap remembering when MJ had purchased the rights to most of the Beatles' copyrights and properties, which then imagined what would have happened if the Beatles did have the rights to do the movie, just broke up before they actually did it (Yoko as the Dark One anyone?)... so, years later, MJ finds that contract in his Vault, and decides he wants to do the movie!
And suddenly, we end up with a LotR version of 'The Wiz'!
- Christopher
Can you imagine (no pun intended) Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson strolling down the road, singing in harmony:
Linear Mode
