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Stuart Townsend says it was only work...no regrets

April 16, 2002 at 22:37:02

TheOneRing.Net recently posted a link to an interview with Stuart Townsend where he talked about almost being Aragorn. We've now heard about another interview.

TORN ran this link to Entertainment Weekly last Friday. In that interview, Stuart said:

Two weeks ago I finally read an article where the filmmakers said, "We were totally wrong about Stuart and we accept that it was our fault," which was so nice because I did get shafted up the a--. I was there rehearsing and training for two months, then was fired the day before filming began. After that I was told they wouldn't pay me because I was in breach of contract due to not having worked long enough. I had been having a rough time with them, so I was almost relieved to be leaving until they told me I wouldn't be paid. I have no good feelings for those people in charge, I really don't. The director [Peter Jackson] wanted me and then apparently thought better of it because he really wanted someone 20 years older than me and completely different.

He was not quite so bitter when he spoke to The Irish Independent:

As for his replacement in the role of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings by Viggo Mortensen who is 20 years his senior, Townsend says that after two months preparation in New Zealand: "They fired me before filming even started because they said I wasn't working hard enough, which is totally ridiculous. I love to work, I'm a worker." But he says he doesn't regret it at all.

"It was only work, it was only an ego thing. I didn't get my heart broken and no-one died on me."

That said, Townsend hasn't seen or nor has he any intention of seeing whatever did happen to Frodo Baggins.

Well, we do wish him all the best, but Viggo Mortensen makes a pretty nice Aragorn....

Thanks to Aidan for the tip.