Miffed Star (Christopher Lee) Boycotts Rings Premiere

Stuff.com ^ | 11-14-2003 | Tom Cardy

[Starbug]

Miffed star boycotts Rings premiere
14 November 2003
By TOM CARDY

Veteran British actor Christopher Lee is boycotting The Return of the King world premiere in Wellington after learning all his scenes as the evil wizard Saruman have been cut.

Lee, 81, said he had expected to appear in seven minutes' worth of climactic scenes in the final Lord of the Rings film. "Of course I'm very shocked, that's all I can say," he told Britain's ITV television channel. Asked if he would attend the premiere, Lee said: "No, what's the point of going?"

Most of the film's main stars, including Sir Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin and Liv Tyler, are to attend. Lee said he could not say more because he had signed a confidentiality agreement. "I still don't really know why."

Lee was a friend of author JRR Tolkien and reads the book at least once a year. A Lord of the Rings spokeswoman in Wellington said Lee had been invited to the premiere, but was not expected to attend because of his age.

Details of the cuts were revealed on the Internet last week in e-mail correspondence between director Peter Jackson and American Harry Knowles, who runs a film news website. Jackson said he had planned to open The Return of the King with a scene involving Lee and the character Wormtongue, played by American Brad Dourif.

"The trouble is, when we viewed various Return of the King cuts over the last few weeks, it feels like the first scenes are wrapping last year's movie . . . We felt it got Return of the King off to an uncertain beginning."

[Starbug]

Bump

[DeepDish]

How in the world can The Return of the KING be done without Saurman?

[Guenevere]

As far as I'm concerned, pretty sour grapes on Lee's part.

Last I checked, the director has the final word on what is & isn't in the movie.

I'm sure the rest of the 'Ring team' will be relieved Lee won't be there to pout and ruin the evening.

[Texas2step]

Wanna ping the ringers? This sounds like an interesting discussion topic.

[ecurbh]

Ring Ping!!

There and Back Again: The Journeys of Flat Frodo

Anyone wishing to be added to or removed from the Ring-Ping list, please don't hesitate to let me know.

[cogitator]

How in the world can The Return of the KING be done without Saurman?

In response to questions about this, Jackson pointed out that the final scenes with Saruman will be in the director's cut DVD of ROTK -- but he also indicated that there really won't be much of the Scouring of the Shire.

The theatrical releases are for the masses; the extended edition DVD's are for the aficionados. (But it will be very cool to see Pelennor Fields on the big screen nonetheless.

[ecurbh]

Lee was a friend of author JRR Tolkien

I think that is a bit of a misstatement. He met Tolkien once in a pub. He is a big fan and does read the book every year, though.

[Lawdoc]

Can I get his tickets? :)

[Lil'freeper]

"Of course I'm very shocked, that's all I can say,"

Well, I'm shocked at his behavior! Till now, he has been, like Rhys-Davis, a gracious gentleman, and a good example for the younger actors. (He's been smart enough to keep his mouth shut about politics- unlike Viggy-baby and that Serkis-clown.) Surely he realizes the spirit of these films transcends any one actor! Bad form, Mr. Lee, bad form.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

I'm dissapointed that Lee's scenes won't be in the theatrical release, but I'm not heartbroken over it. it'll be in the DVD, so that's enough for me.

[HairOfTheDog]

Fascinating.....

[HairOfTheDog]

You know what this says to me is that PJ must deal with Saruman's demise ~only~ in the TTT EE (OR RoTK EE)... We already know that many scenes expanding on the flooding of Isenguard are in the spoilers for TTT EE.

I don't ~think~ they can close out RoTK without finishing him off, even in the theatrical versions. Only handling it in the EEs means the movie (non EE DVD) crowd never knows what happened to him?

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Only handling it in the EEs means the movie (non EE DVD) crowd never knows what happened to him?

Those are the same people who were wondering where Sam got the elven rope from in TT. If they didn't see FotR EE, then the rope, Merry & Pip's belts, Legolas' new bow...none of it would have made sense to them either.

IMO...anyone who likes the story will be compelled to see the EE of all three movies, to get the whole story.

I don't feel gyped at all, since I already know what happens, having read the novels several times.

[Lil'freeper]

I don't ~think~ they can close out RoTK without finishing him off, even in the theatrical versions.

Well, maybe they can. They set the ents to guard him and move the story elsewhere. Then they can skip the Souring of the Shire entirely and leave the audience to assume that Saruman is safely kept. A possibility, hopefully remote.

But I trust PJ'll find a way to wrap things up nicely... even if it doesn't match the books word for word.

[Fire-Breathing_Freeper]

I wonder if his father smelt of elderberries?

[My back yard]

Interesting. Youknow though, I can't help but think from some of his comments in the FOTR EE that he comes from a generation of film stars who are naturally at odds with their director. He might not have attended anyway, just because of his health, but can't pass on the opportunity to get a dig at a director. And the press is just thrilled to make a mountain out of it. I don't know. :)

Hmmm, still can't quite figure what PJ has in mind with no Saruman at alll!?

[My back yard]

I wonder if it could be PG/R-rating related, and the scene is too bloody, of his death?

[Lil'freeper]

Maybe they can kill him tastefully and go for a PG-13? ;)

[areeves79]

Link to the story from theonering.net site.

http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/2/1068240351