Recasting The Lord Of The Rings In 1986: Who Should Play All 9 Fellowship Members?

Credit: MovieStillsDB Published Nov 12, 2026, 7:01 PM EST Sky Blanton is a Movie Contributor at ScreenRant with professional experience covering movies, television, and pop culture. Her published work spans news, interviews, features, and opinion pieces, with a focus on film, franchise storytelling, and the entertainment industry. She earned her bachelor's degree in Communications with a concentration in Professional Writing and a minor in Business Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Sign in to your ScreenRant account J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit entrusted with destroying the One Ring before the Dark Lord Sauron can reclaim it and conquer Middle-earth. Eight companions join Frodo to form the Fellowship of the Ring, including the wizard Gandalf, the ranger Aragorn, and three other hobbits. Their mission takes them through a world of Elves, Dwarves, and humans who don't always trust one another. The Fellowship's relationships are just as important as their mission, especially as their differing loyalties and personalities are tested along the way. Peter Jackson adapted Tolkien's novels into three films released between 2001 and 2003, introducing Middle-earth to a new generation of fans. The trilogy won 17 Academy Awards, including 11 for The Return of the King, which also won Best Picture. While its enormous battles and detailed fantasy world helped make the films successful, the Fellowship's friendships, rivalries, and sacrifices gave audiences a reason to care about what happened to its members. Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, and Viggo Mortensen became so closely associated with Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn that imagining different actors in those roles is extremely difficult. But what if The Lord of the Rings had been made in 1986, 15 years before The Fellowship of the Ring reached theaters? Movies like Legend, Labyrinth, and Highlander were bringing fantasy adventures to the big screen, and Hollywood had an entirely different generation of actors to choose from. Some had already proven themselves in the genre, while others had performances that suggested they could take on Tolkien's characters. Based on the performances they had given by 1986, these nine actors would have been strong choices to bring Tolkien's Fellowship to the big screen. New Line Cinema / Warner Bros. (Warner Archive) Peter O'Toole had the kind of screen presence that could make Gandalf's temper just as entertaining as his sense of humor. In My Favorite Year (1982), he plays Alan Swann, a drunken, aging movie star who can charm almost anyone but panics at the thought of performing on live television. Gandalf can be similarly unpredictable, especially when his patience with the hobbits wears thin. In Lawrence of Arabia (1962), O'Toole plays T.E. Lawrence, who persuades a group of fighters to cross the desert and launch a surprise attack on Aqaba. He knows how to take charge when everyone else has doubts, something Gandalf must do when he holds off the Balrog in Moria, so the Fellowship can escape. 8 Matthew Broderick As Frodo Baggins Matthew Broderick had already starred in a fantasy adventure by 1986, playing the young thief Phillipe Gaston in Ladyhawke (1985). After escaping prison through the sewers, Phillipe gets caught up in a knight's attempt to break a curse separating him from the woman he loves. Although he initially wants nothing to do with it, Phillipe eventually risks his life to save the knight from a freezing river and sneaks back into the heavily guarded city to help break the curse. Phillipe's willingness to put himself in danger despite having little fighting experience makes Broderick an interesting choice for Frodo. However, playing Frodo would require him to go much further, especially as carrying the Ring begins to affect him physically and mentally. 7 Rick Moranis As Samwise Gamgee Rick Moranis may be best known for his comedic roles, but his performance in Little Shop of Horrors (1986) suggests he could have played Samwise Gamgee very well. Moranis plays Seymour Krelborn, a timid florist who discovers that his unusual plant survives on human blood. Seymour lets things spiral out of control, but when the plant attacks Audrey, the woman he loves, he pulls her from its jaws and eventually destroys it. Seymour makes some terrible decisions, but his determination to save Audrey offers a glimpse of how Moranis could play Sam's loyalty to Frodo. Sam is willing to face dangers far beyond his abilities to protect his friend, even taking on the giant spider Shelob when Frodo's life is at stake. 6 Liam Neeson As Aragorn Liam Neeson was no stranger to medieval fantasy by 1986, having played Sir Gawain in 1981's Excalibur. Neeson portrays Sir Gawain, one of King Arthur's knights, who publicly accuses Queen Guenevere of having an affair with Lancelot. Even when Arthur angrily confronts him, Gawain refuses to withdraw his accusation and challenges Lancelot to a joust. Gawain's willingness to challenge King Arthur shows how Neeson could handle Aragorn's authority, though the two characters are very different. Aragorn is far more cautious about his responsibilities, especially when Gandalf's fall in Moria leaves him to lead the Fellowship. 5 Rutger Hauer As Boromir Rutger Hauer could have made Boromir's downfall extremely tragic. In Blade Runner (1982), he plays Roy Batty, a replicant who kills to prolong his short life but ultimately saves the man hunting him. During their final confrontation, Roy pulls Deckard to safety as he hangs from a rooftop, despite having every reason to let him fall. Roy's decision to save Deckard doesn't erase the people he's killed, but it makes him more than just a villain. Boromir is similarly complicated. He tries to take the One Ring from Frodo because he believes it could save Gondor, but ultimately sacrifices his life defending Merry and Pippin. Hauer had already shown he could play a character capable of both terrible decisions and genuine compassion. 4 Christopher Lambert As Legolas Christopher Lambert had already played an immortal warrior in Highlander (1986), making him an interesting choice for Legolas. Lambert stars as Connor MacLeod, a Scottish swordsman who survives for centuries while everyone around him grows old and dies. In one of the film's saddest scenes, Connor remains beside his wife Heather as she ages and eventually dies, knowing he will continue living without her. Legolas has also lived for centuries, though he doesn't share Connor's bitterness about outliving the people he loves. Lambert would need to show a different side of himself as Legolas grows closer to Gimli, trading jokes and competing over their kills despite the long-standing rivalry between Elves and Dwarves. 3 Bob Hoskins As Gimli Bob Hoskins could have played Gimli's stubbornness without making the Dwarf's temper his entire personality. In The Long Good Friday (1980), Hoskins plays Harold Shand, a London gangster who lashes out when his criminal empire comes under attack. His performance in Mona Lisa (1986) gives a different side of him. As George, an ex-convict hired to chauffeur a sex worker named Simone, Hoskins gradually becomes protective of her and agrees to help rescue a young girl from exploitation. That change in George makes Hoskins a good fit for Gimli, whose stubbornness sometimes gives way to unexpected tenderness. Despite his distrust of Elves, Gimli is so moved by Galadriel's kindness in Lothlórien that he asks for a strand of her hair to remember her by. 2 Michael J. Fox As Merry Brandybuck Michael J. Fox would have been an obvious choice for Merry Brandybuck, especially after playing Marty McFly in Back to the Future (1985). When Marty accidentally travels to 1955 and interferes with his parents' first meeting, he has to figure out how to bring them together or risk erasing his own existence. He even steps in to play guitar at the school dance when an injured musician threatens to ruin his plan. Fox could bring that resourcefulness to Merry, who often has to think for both himself and the more impulsive Pippin. Merry eventually proves he can do more than keep his friend out of trouble, helping Éowyn defeat the Witch-king by stabbing him during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. 1 Anthony Michael Hall As Pippin Took By 1986, Anthony Michael Hall had made a name for himself playing awkward, impulsive teenagers, which makes him a fitting choice for Pippin Took. In Sixteen Candles, Hall plays the Geek, an awkward freshman who tries to impress Samantha at a school dance, only to embarrass himself. When they finally talk, he admits he's not nearly as experienced with girls as he pretends to be. Hall takes on a more emotional role in The Breakfast Club, where Brian Johnson breaks down while explaining how his academic struggles led him to contemplate suicide. Hall could bring both the awkward humor and vulnerability of those performances to Pippin, whose curiosity often gets him into trouble. By The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Pippin has become much more responsible, even seeking Gandalf's help to stop Denethor from burning his son Faramir alive. Movie(s) The Lord of the Rings (1978), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim TV Show(s) The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Video Game(s) The Lord of the Rings Online (dupe), Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria First Film The Lord of the Rings (1978) Cast Norman Bird, Anthony Daniels, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis, Brad Dourif, Karl Urban, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Morfydd Clark, Mike Wood, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Sara Zwangobani, Daniel Weyman, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Lenny Henry, Brian Cox, Shaun Dooley, Miranda Otto, Bilal Hasna, Benjamin Wainwright, Luke Pasqualino, Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt Created by J.R.R. Tolkien