20 Actors That Were Almost Cast In The Lord Of The Rings

By Scott Campbell /

16. Jake Gyllenhaal - Frodo

During 2013's awards season, Jake Gyllenhaal revealed that he had read for the role of Frodo during the casting process for The Lord Of The Rings, admitting that it wasn't exactly the greatest audition of his career, recalling; "I remember going in and not being told that I needed a British accent... We heard back it was literally one of the worst auditions." The actor would have only been around 18 or 19 at the time, but didn't let the disappointment deter him; since his breakout role in Donnie Darko back in 2001 Gyllenhaal has gone on to establish himself as one of the finest actors of his generation, and is currently in the midst of the hottest streak of his career after great work in End Of Watch, Prisoners, Enemy and Nightcrawler.