Popular, highly-acclaimed singer-songwriter David Bowie was a man of many talents. Multifaceted and versatile in his approach, the legendary musician’s career was a showstopper; experimental and constantly evolving. Friends or associates, fans or foes, Bowie’s mystique and glamor led him to become a household name that would never leave their mouths.
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Although renowned mostly for being one of the most influential and prestigious musical artists in history, Bowie dabbled in the art of acting too. The likes of Hollywood stalwarts such as Christopher Nolan were star-struck by the late visionary’s on-set charisma. Despite his enchanting allure and electrifying personality, Bowie’s fame and acclaim allegedly became a big factor in why he was passed over for a major film endeavor. Take a look.
Christopher Nolan Was Persistent In Getting David Bowie To Star In His Movie
The Prestige is among Christopher Nolan‘s most notable works and stars Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman in the leading roles. In the film, David Bowie is seen playing the role of eminent inventor Nikola Tesla. However, convincing The Thin White Duke to play the aforementioned part became an arduous task for the director. As a self-proclaimed fan of the musician, Nolan thought that the only star capable of matching the on-screen mystery of Nikola Tesla was Bowie. When the Oppenheimer alum reached out to the Labyrinth talent, he was turned down the first time around.
Nolan’s tenacity proved a stronger force. He was not ready to give up. Talking to Entertainment Weekly, the esteemed director recalled having “begged” the genre-hopping singer-songwriter to partake in the 2006 project. Here’s an excerpt from his statement:
“As someone who was the biggest Bowie fan in the world … he seemed to be the only actor capable of playing the part. He had that requisite iconic status, and he was a figure as mysterious as Tesla needed to be. It took me a while to convince him, though—he turned down the part the first time … I petitioned to let me explain why he was the right actor for it … I told him if he didn’t agree to do the part, I had no idea where I would go from there. I would say I begged him.”
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Nolan’s efforts did not go in vain. He succeeded in getting the person he revered the most to star in his movie. Bowie’s on-set charisma was deemed magical by the filmmaker, who affirmed that the time he shared with the musician subsequently became a treasured memory of his. The Inception-helmer’s choice proved beneficial. Bowie was able to precisely encapsulate what made Nikola Tesla an intriguing character in The Prestige. His portrayal received positive recognition from critics and fans alike. The film went on to amass $109.7 million at the worldwide box office.
Peter Jackson Did Not Want A Megastar Like David Bowie In LOTR
The main deterrent to getting considered for a role in one of the biggest franchises of all time may have been David Bowie’s superstar status. For years, rumors and reports detailed that the singer-actor was eyeing the part of Elrond for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, the director of the acclaimed film series, Sir Peter Jackson was hesitant to cast famous stars in his adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien-penned premise.
Instead, the role of Elrond went to Hugo Weaving, who was then a relatively lesser-known talent in the industry. In an interview with EW, Jackson elaborated upon his casting decisions:
“These are famous, famous characters, loved for nearly 50 years. To have a famous, beloved character and a famous star colliding is slightly uncomfortable.”
Follow-up reports suggested that Bowie also auditioned for the role of Gandalf. Dominic Monaghan, who embodied hobbit Meriadoc Brandybuck in the fantasy trilogy, once recalled running into David Bowie during his audition for the endeavor. This happened at Hubbard’s casting agency office in London. Upon seeing the legendary personality, a bewitched Monaghan assumed that the only role Bowie could’ve read for was the bearded wizard.
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Later, casting director Amy Hubbard confirmed in an interview with The Huffington Post that Bowie was indeed approached for the renowned role that later went to Sir Ian McKellen. However, the rock & roll star was unavailable and in reality, never formally auditioned. Following is the statement made by Hubbard:
“He never auditioned. That’s for sure […] We approached [Bowie]. I’m pretty sure it was Peter Jackson’s idea in the first few weeks that we got going. It was one that he’d always wondered about, and we rang Chris [Andrews, Bowie’s agent], and [Bowie] was far too busy.”
With these comments, fans of the eminent musician were left to wonder what a world with David Bowie starring in the beloved film series would have looked like. Some can only daydream about what could have been. However, for LOTR enjoyers, it is simply an impossible task to imagine anybody other than Sir Ian McKellen embodying the notable wizard. And understandably so. There’s a reason why his portrayal reaped immense appreciation from critics and audiences, after all.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
