10 Amazing Behind The Scenes Stories From The Lord Of The Rings
9. Ian Holm Was Offered The Role Of Bilbo Because He'd Previously Played Frodo
Peter Jackson's movies weren't the first time the LOTR had been adapted into other mediums. American director Ralph Bakshi, released one half of the trilogy as an animated movie back in 1978. Although the filmed tanked, and never received a sequel, it did influence Jackson to come up with his prologue sequence at the start of the Fellowship. And, it's pretty damn similar...
But three years later, in 1981, the BBC released a far more successful adaptation of Tolkien's epic, in the form of an audio play. The cast was made up of classically trained actors from across the UK, including Robert Stephens as Aragorn, Bill Nighy as Sam, John Le Mesurier as Bilbo, and a young Ian Holm as Frodo.
Jackson had been so fond of the adaptation that he used it as further inspiration when it came to structuring his story. He also insisted the entire cast listen to the thirteen-hour-long radio play, on their flight over to New Zealand. His final homage to the BBC's enchanting adaption, was to cast Ian Holm as people Bilbo Baggins.