Good news for ‘The Lord of the Rings‘ fans! Kate Winslet is set to join the billion-dollar franchise’s upcoming installment, ‘The Hunt for Gollum,’ marking a full-circle moment for her and Peter Jackson.
According to multiple outlets, Winslet is being eyed for a prominent supporting female role in the Andy Serkis-directed sequel, with speculation pointing to characters such as Gilraen, the mother of Aragorn, or even Smeagol’s grandmother, the matriarch of Stoor hobbit village.
Kate Winslet Could’ve Played Eowyn In ‘The Lord of the Rings’
Kate Winslet’s casting in ‘The Hunt for Gollum‘ has sparked renewed interest in why she declined a major role in the original ‘Lord of the Rings‘ trilogy. Well, after the unprecedented commercial and critical success of ‘Titanic‘, the actress found herself inundated with several high-profile projects.
Jackson was eager to work with the actress after she delivered a standout performance in his earlier film. He offered her Eowyn, the shieldmaiden of Rohan who slays the Witch King in ‘The Return of the King.’ Alas, despite the appeal of collaborating with Jackson again, Winslet declined the offer.
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Why Kate Winslet Turned Down Peter Jackson’s Offer
Reportedly, Winslet passed on Eowyn due to her gruelling schedule and the enormous multi-year production commitment required for the project. ‘The Lord of the Rings‘ was shot back-to-back in New Zealand over several years, often requiring actors to relocate far from their homes for extended periods.
So, Winslet’s agent sent an email to the New Line Cinema president, Michael De Luca, stating, “Winslet’s unavailable, I’m afraid. I think she passed on the project due to the length of time it takes.”
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How ‘Titanic’ Changed Kate Winslet’s Career Choices
After the unmatched global popularity of James Cameron’s ‘Titanic,’ Winslet enjoyed the rare luxury of selectivity, especially for a British actress in Hollywood. By opting out of the lengthy ‘Lord of the Rings‘ project, she was able to pursue other challenging, diverse, and character-driven films like ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind‘ and ‘Iris.’
The decision to avoid immediate typecasting in epic blockbusters ultimately proved fruitful for Winslet’s career, as she built a reputation for her nuanced performances and eventually won an Oscar for ‘The Reader‘ in 2008.
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