John Rhys-Davies Says No To The Hobbit Movie
Published on: 30th October, 2009
John Rhys-Davies Says No To The Hobbit Movie | Related News
John Rhys-Davies has ruled himself out of a return to Middle Earth. Although Gimli isn’t in The Hobbit, his Father Gloin is and the good folk at Empire asked Rhys-Davies if he would be interested in a return.
“I’ve already been asked and to be honest with you, I wouldn’t. I have already completely ruled it out. There’s a sentimental part of me that would love to be involved again. Really I am not sure my face can take that sort of punishment any more.”
“It was just a gentle “What would you feel about putting it on again?” But no. I’d be interested in trying to create a different type of persona within… the thing. That is challenging as an actor. I’d really prefer to play something quite different. Maybe an Elf. They’ve got a different set of problems with The Hobbit because you’ve got 13 dwarves, a whole band of them… You’re trying to represent a whole race… You’re trying to do for dwarves what The Lord of the Rings did for hobbits.”
While not being interested in the part of Gloin is no problem for The Hobbit movie, his rejection will cause problems for any attempt at the so called bridging movie which hopes to fill in the gap between the end of The Hobbit with the start of The Fellowship of the Ring.
Source: Empire Online
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This may turn out to be bad news.
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[...] John Rhys-Davies only last month said he had been approached but had said ‘no thanks’ to a return to Middle Earth as has Christopher Lee. [...]
OH no, that is so very heartbreaking to hear. He was such a terrfic Gimli, I doubt you would find anyone else better:( my 10 year old son is a big fan of Gimli, he even brought gimli costume for holloween and has many gilmi soveniers. ITs sad to hear that he doesn’t want to play the part just because he doesn’t want to go through the make-up process, theirs many of other things that are worse in this world. Be thankfull of what you have. Think of your devoted fans. WIthout John Rhys Davies,, theirs no Gilmi:( Please reconsider..
Devoted fan in Candada…
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Oh, that’s so sad! I loved him as Gimli; but I guess the voice did the most for me.. I know that he actually did not act as much as his stand-in did, because he’s a man of 180 cm. I hope, and I’m sure, they can find a fulfilling actor - especially cause he’d have to be covered in make-up anyway - but it’s still heartbreaking to hear we wont get the right Gimli back again.
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John Rhys-Davies’ role as Gimli was class, but let’s not forget that a lot of Gimli’s time onscreen - if I’m not mistaken - was played by his scale double Brett Beattie.
I’m sure with a few tweaks here and there Rhys-Davies could provide his distinctive voice for Gimli in the prequel to the Fellowship, and somebody could suffer the prosthetic change and be our onscreen much-loved dwarf.
I’m pretty sure after so much ADR in the first three films, Jackson and co. could easily make it work… and work well. Seems like a the best option to me. I’m sure Rhys-Davies would be very keen to do it, too. The Gimli of the film world is his character, and Gimli wouldn’t be Gimli without his voice.
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The Gimli of the movies, that is… >.o
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Aww, come on, he’s the most funniest and cutest little man on earth!
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Its not the action, the role or the acting that is stopping him from returning - its the makeup. John Rhys-Davies had a very nasty allergic reaction to his dwarf makeup during LOTR, and throughout filming he was in considerable discomfort and pain. If you look very carefully you can see in some shots where his face has swollen up. For the sake of his part/job he endured it - it was after all a dream come true once in a lifetime opportunity - but it was a nightmare for him.
John Rhys-Davies loved being chosen, was honoured to do it and I am sure the experience is one he will treasure. But Mr Davies is in no rush to repeat his ordeal and frankly,considering what he went through, who can blame him?
And yes, he’s a great guy. I’ve met him three times and he’s always got something nice and encouraging to say, is always full of life. A great man.
But anyway, Gimli isn’t in the Hobbit and doesn’t feature in any of the canon side events around it. Unlike Saruman, Gandalf, Radaghast, Elrond, Galadriel, Aragorn and of course Gollum who DO feature in or around the Hobbit, there is no Legolas and no Gimili. The Fellowship of the Ring is the first time they actively enter events.
On the other hand, Gloin, (Gimili’s Father), and Thranduil the Elfking, (Father of Legolas), are very much major players…
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Eldorion Reply:
December 16th, 2009 at 6:21 am
@Ceylerion, while I agree with most of your points, I’d like to point out that Aragorn has no role in The Hobbit _or_ anything else going on in that timeframe. He was only 10 years old and was just growing up in Imladris.
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That depends on what you call “timeframe”. While I grant Aragorn was too young for the actual Hobbit story itself, he would have been old enough - and was active - just sixteen years later.
Bare in mind that the events of LOTR take place either over a period of twenty odd years in the book - taking Bilbo leaving the Shire as the “start”. The LOTR movies jump about even more, with a beginning a full three thousand years(!) before the story proper (the Last Alliance of elves and Men) with further jumps back in time to show Smeagol’s fall and jumps FORWARD to show Aragorn’s passing along the way.
The Hobbit movie might make similar jumps in time to expand the narrative. The makers of the Hobbit have indeed expressed a wish to “expand” on the Hobbit and show us events around it. So you never know.
If for instance, they wish to show us the first encounter between Gandalf and Aragorn fourteen years after the Hobbit, then we may well see him (interestingly Aragorn becomes active as Thorongil just the very next year - what DID Gandalf say to him?
)
OR if the filmmkaers want to show us a bit of what happened to Smeagol in those intervening seventy odd years betweem the Hobbit and the War of the Ring, then again, Aragorn may make an appearance, but I grant that second case is far less likely.
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