Early Roles From Lord Of The Rings Actors They Want You To Forget About

It's been over 20 years since the release of the first film of Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" series, and the epic fantasy trilogy still holds more influence than ever. The seemingly insurmountable task of adapting the beloved J.R.R. Tolkien works was as harrowing as the quest to destroy the One Ring itself, and yet Jackson, along with producers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, rose to the occasion to give fans an unforgettable moviegoing experience. Thanks to the writers' reverential treatment of the source material and the talented Wētā Workshop special effect studios, the "Lord of the Rings" movies managed to bring the magic of Middle-earth to life on the big screen.

Besides an innovative script and high-quality production design, the films needed a stellar group of actors to portray the iconic heroes and villains of such an important story. The "LOTR" films have a massive cast list, and many of its actors were relative unknowns before the movies were released. Some of the films that came before the fantasy trilogy, though, might be a source of embarrassment for some of the actors. As we delve into the early works of some of the fellowship members, here are some movies that these actors may wish had been thrown into the fires of Mount Doom along with the One Ring.

Though his portrayal of Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings" has become his most noteworthy role, Sir Ian McKellen had a long career in film, television, and theater many years before being cast as the benevolent wizard. Some of his earliest roles included adaptations of classic literary characters, including figures from the works of William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. However, there is one movie from McKellen's filmography that should perhaps be left on the shelf to gather dust.

The 1983 horror "The Keep" takes place during World War II in the majestic Carpathian Mountains. A small Romanian village has been occupied by Nazi soldiers, led by a particularly nasty customer by the name of Erich Kaempffer (Gabriel Byrne). In a nearby fort known as the Keep, an ancient evil force is awakened and begins to terrify the inhabitants. As the bodies pile up, the German soldiers forcefully recruit a local professor (McKellen) to investigate the supernatural horrors within the Keep.

Directed by Michael Mann, the mind behind acclaimed films such as "The Last of the Mohicans" and "Heat," "The Keep" fell far short of impressing the critics. Though some praised the film's visual style, like critic Simon Abrams, even Abrams concedes that the film is an unrestrained "mess" (per Slant Magazine). McKellen is likely grateful that this horror flick has mostly faded from the public's memory — until now, that is.

With so few female characters in "The Lord of the Rings," director Peter Jackson knew what he was doing when he cast Australian actor Cate Blanchett as the Elven sorceress Galadriel. Blanchett's ethereal grace and power as the Lady of Lórien made such an impact on the original trilogy that she was brought back to reprise her role in "The Hobbit" films as well. Blanchett has been hailed as one of the finest actors working today, and besides her acting career, she is an avid environmentalist and humanitarian. However, there is one film from early in her career that may cause some embarrassment.

The 2000 period drama "The Man Who Cried" stars Christina Ricci, Johnny Depp, Cate Blanchett, and John Turturro as four immigrants who attempt to find art and love in World War II Paris. Ricci plays a young Jewish refugee, who is taken in by the Russian dancer Lola (Blanchett). Depp plays Cesar, a Romani horse trainer with whom Ricci's character falls in love.

Despite being jam-packed with high-caliber film stars, "The Man Who Cried" did not succeed in eliciting any tears from the critics -– except, perhaps, from boredom. Though Blanchett won awards for her performance, most reviewers had only negative things to say about the film. Some critics, like Marc Savlov of The Austin Chronicle, accused the movie of being too dull and melodramatic. With all of her other more successful endeavors, Blanchett probably hopes that this one will be forgotten.

Though he wasn't the original casting choice, it's difficult to imagine anyone but Viggo Mortensen as the heroic Aragorn, the rightful king of Gondor, in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Sent in to replace Stuart Townsend at the last minute, Viggo brought depth and soberness to the character, making him one of the most memorable elements of the franchise.

Since the ending of the epic fantasy films, Mortensen went on to receive critical acclaim in other projects. He was nominated both for Academy Awards and Golden Globes for his performances in "Eastern Promises," "Captain Fantastic," and "Green Book." However, some of Mortensen's earlier works were not as impressive. One film in particular, 1993's "Boiling Point," has him squaring up against Wesley Snipes, but even the "Blade" star couldn't save this action flop.

Snipes plays Jimmy Mercer, a cop bent on revenge for the murder of his partner by Mortensen's Ronnie. Ronnie had been released from jail thanks to crime boss Red Diamond (Dennis Hopper), and now both of them are on Jimmy's hit list. "Boiling Point" was slammed by the critics, who said the film lacked action and excitement. Though he has more than made up for his lackluster performance in "Boiling Point" since, this is one movie that Mortensen would probably like his fans to forget.

As many fans will attest, Samwise Gamgee is often considered the true hero of the "Lord of the Rings" story. As Frodo's most loyal companion, Sam sets out on a harrowing quest the likes of which few hobbits had ever dared to even consider. Sean Astin plays the sweet-natured Sam, portraying him with all the reverence and respect that the beloved character deserves. Before the "Lord of the Rings" films, Astin had a lucrative career as a child actor, notably in the nostalgic 1980s favorite "The Goonies." Yet the project that followed the treasure-hunting adventure comedy was not as memorable, or as lauded.

Two years after the release of "The Goonies," Astin co-starred with Kevin Bacon in the 1987 coming-of-age drama "White Water Summer." Astin plays a teenager named Alan, who is persuaded by a nature guide, Vic (Bacon), to join a wilderness survival camp for the summer. However, the experience proves to be much more trying than Alan had anticipated. Joined by three other boys, Alan is faced with one arduous challenge after the other as Vic pushes him to the limit with his severe leadership methods.

"White Water Summer" may have escaped the notice of most filmgoers since it only had a limited theatrical release. The critics who did see it were unimpressed and gave it dismal reviews. Even Astin's boyish charm wasn't enough to save this mess of a movie, so it's probably for the best that it stayed under the radar.

John Rhys-Davies took on the role of Gimli in "The Lord of the Rings," the gruff yet lovable dwarf who lends his ax to the fellowship's quest. Rhys-Davies is also well-known for playing Sallah in the "Indiana Jones" films. It was possibly due to his portrayal of the fez-wearing excavator that Rhys-Davies was cast in a similar action-adventure feature in 1985. Unfortunately, that film ended up being far inferior and should have been lost to the ages.

"King Solomon's Mines" was adapted from the novel by author H. Rider Haggard. Haggard's stories featured the adventures of Allan Quartermain, the character who inspired the creation of Indiana Jones. Opposite Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone, who play the heroes, Rhys-Davies plays Dogati, Quartermain's rival and a vicious killer, who teams up with a German colonel, Bockner (Herbert Lom), to find the legendary mines of King Solomon before Quartermain.

With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 8%, it's clear that "King Solomon's Mines" was not the fun-filled adventure the film's creators had set out to make. Walter Goodman of The New York Times criticized its worn plot and campy characters while also noticing the "strenuous efforts" of Rhys-Davies despite the poor quality of the rest of the picture. It seems even the appearance of Gimli actor Rhys-Davies couldn't save this dud of a movie.