When selecting actors for his highly anticipated cinematic adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien’s ‘Lord Of The Rings‘ novels, director Peter Jackson was specific. While many top Hollywood stars were eager to take part in the epic trilogy, not all auditions went smoothly.
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal recounted his disastrous audition for the role of Frodo Baggins, leaving director Peter Jackson less than impressed. Nearly two decades later, Gyllenhaal can look back and laugh about his failed bid for Middle Earth glory.
Jake Gyllenhaal Had A Casual Approach To Frodo’s Character
Jake Gyllenhaal was one of many young up-and-coming actors who jumped at the chance to be part of Peter Jackson’s franchise. However, his audition would soon become infamous. While talent and passion were not lacking, his understanding of Frodo and the significance of the One Ring left were not upto the mark. He was simply not the right fit for Frodo.
Gyllenhaal explained he went in for an audition tape involving a scene where Frodo picks up the One Ring. However, unaware of its great importance in Tolkien’s works, Gyllenhaal played it very casually, simply taking the prop ring from the box without understanding the gravity of finding it.
He would get no callback, with Jackson allegedly replying it was “one of the worst auditions” he’d ever seen. Jake Gyllenhaal also shared that he asked how he had done after, causing Jackson to visibly grimace.
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In addition to downplaying the ring, Gyllenhaal also missed including Frodo’s British accent from the Shire when reading his dialogue aloud. As an American actor, he read his lines in his regular speaking voice instead of adjusting to fit the role.
It was only after being questioned by Jackson that Jake Gyllenhaal realized he was supposed to use an accent, but he had never been informed beforehand. These glaring oversights clearly missed Jackson’s vision for the iconic hobbit and explained why his audition was deemed such a failure.
Jake Gyllenhaal’s Career Had Better Plans Despite Rejection
While Jakr Gyllenhaal did not get to play Frodo, his movie career flourished in subsequent years anyway. He garnered recognition for the cult hit ‘Donnie Darko‘ in 2001 and broke into blockbuster films with roles in ‘The Day After Tomorrow‘ and proof of his dramatic chops in ‘Brokeback Mountain‘, earning his sole Oscar nomination to date.
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Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Gyllenhaal collaborated with acclaimed directors and took on diverse roles, showing his versatility. Jake Gyllenhaal also found comic book franchise success as Mysterio in ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home‘. Gyllenhaal has gone on to have one of the most respected careers in Hollywood and can look back on his ‘Lord Of The Rings‘ story with amusement rather than regret.
