I know, I know, PJ and the casting director did an excellent job of casting LOTR but who are some other actors you could picture in those roles?

Patrick Stewart - as Denethor. I'm sure John Noble has done a fine job but it would have been cool to see him in the LOTR. The fact that he's stronly assoc. as Cpt. Picard is a negative but...... he was in Boorman's Excalibur.

Ewan McGregor - as Faramir. He's a great actor. Too bad he was in the new but lackluster SW series instead.

Jason Patric or Billy Crudup - as Aragorn. Viggo is Aragorn no doubt about it but Jason or Billy would have been good too.

Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous) as Frodo. Elijah's expressive eyes make him Frodo without a doubt but Patrick has good "eyes" too.

Sam Neil (Jurassic Park) as Elrond. He too could have carried the role with the same kind of weight necessary for this role.

Monica Belluci as Arwen. Beautiful face that also bespeaks of experience. But would Monica been capable of the beautiful elfen speech as Liv?...that is the question.

Uma Thurman as Galadriel. She lacks the vocal authority and style of Cate Blanchett but Uma would have made a good elf. But its hard to imagine Uma being older than Monica Belluci.

About the only cast member I would replace is Agent Elrond. I really don't know who could have taken the role, but Sam Neil might have done a pretty good job with it (even though I think he's too short).

I'm writing a paper about LOTR for school and came across an article from 1998 about actors wanting to be in the movie. Sam Neill and Sean Connery were going after the parts of Gandalf when they were still casting for the movie.

I know that David Bowie talked about wanting the part of Elrond(the movie part, sickos)

Connery would have made an interesting Saruman.

some alternative choices:

Tobey Maguire or Jake Gyllenhaul - Frodo Baggins

Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Connelly, or Winona Ryder - Arwen

Sting or Liam Neeson - Elrond

Kenneth Branagh - Bilbo Baggins

Nicole Kidman or Connie Nielsen - Galadriel

Russell Crowe or Rufus Sewell - Boromir

Ethan Hawke, Daniel Day-Lewis, or Johnny Depp - Aragorn

Naomi Watts, Olivia Williams, or Kate Winslet - Eowyn

Ridley Scott or Michael Gambon - Theoden

Val Kilmer or Ralph Fiennes - Faramir

Brian Cox, Ian McDiarmid, or F. Murray Abraham - Saruman

John C. Reilly or Robbie Coltrane - Gimli

Leonardo DiCaprio or Jude Law - Legolas

Mike Meyers - Pippin

Dana Carvey - Merry

I'm positive I read somewhere Connery turned the part down.

Edit*Here's a link to the story.http://filmforce.ign.com/lotr/articl.../366935p1.html

While I can agree that Uma Thurman would make a great elf, she would NOT make a great Galadriel.

Cate Blanchett IS Galadriel. I found myself being "bewitched" by her performance(and looks) just like the other cast memebers in the FOTR commentary.

I still believe that Daniel Day Lewis playing Aragorn would've made a world of difference.

Jeffrey Combs was dying for the part of Grima Wormtounge, and almost got it--only to lose out to Brad Dourif at the last moment...

I'm not sure that Aragorn would be quite as compelling in an oversized top hat.

Wasn't Uma Thurman up for Arwen at some point?

Connery would not have been a good Gandalf--he's too bluff and hearty. He would have made a great Theoden, though.

I'm glad they avoided mega-star casting: it can really distract you from the story. See John Travolta in The Thin Red Line for an example.

Though it is fun to imagine how badly they could have screwed it up by using bigger stars.

Brendan Fraser *is* Frodo. (To his credit, Fraser might make a good Sam.)

Jack Nicholson *is* Gandalf.

Samuel L. Jackson *is* Elrond.

Marlon Brando *is* Bilbo.

Sharon Stone *is* Galadriel. Etc. etc.

Jack Nicholson as Gandalf with a deathly white face, a huge grin across his face and wearing a pointed hat.

Gandalf the Grey is dead. You may call me The Joker.

Can't tell if you are being serious or just being sarcastic on some of these. Had to laugh at the suggestion about Mike and Dana for the roles of Pippin and Merry. Also could you imagine the forced perspective and sfx they would have to do dwarf size John C. Reilly or Robbie Coltrane, these two are quite tall as I understand. Great actor, but it seems like Brian Cox has been in a lot of movies of recent (must be needing that pay check). Ethan and Johnny are too fey for the role of Aragon.

Howabout Richard Karn for the role of Boromir.

John C Reilly, Robbie Coltrane and John Rhys-Davies are all 6'1". Works out perfect for them to be in scenes with the Hobbits.

Hobbitts' World! Hobbitts' world! Party time, excellent!

It's Friday night, it's 10pm in the Shire and it's time to paarrrrrtyyyyy