David Bowie was eyed as Gandalf in 'Lord of the Rings'

Casting director Amy Hubbard, who did the casting for "The Lord of the Rings" film franchise, has revealed that late music icon David Bowie was considered to play Gandalfs character in the film.

Actor Dominic Monaghan, who played Merry in the popular film franchise, revealed earlier this year that he once saw Bowie in the casting agency. The musician "signed his little list" and Monaghan assumed he would be cast as Gandalf.

Now Hubbard says that Bowie was indeed considered for the role, which was finally played by Ian McKellen.

"He was unavailable," Hubbard said of why Bowie was eventually not cast in the movie.

"It was a very quick conversation with the legendary Chris Andrews at CAA. I do believe that (Bowie) went over and played for everybody at the Millennium party. That would've been New Year's Eve in the year 1999, which was when the films were being shot. He went over and entertained everybody, but he never auditioned. That's for sure."

Peter Jackson, the director of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, did want Bowie to play Gandalf.

"We approached him. I'm pretty sure it was Peter Jackson's idea in the first few weeks that we got going. It was one that he'd always wondered about, and we rang Chris, and (Bowie) was far too busy," Hubbard said.

--IANS

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