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There ’s a popular urban myth that The Beatles once hope to make their ownThe Lord of the Ringsmovie - what was in reality going on , and why did n’t it happen ? In 2020,The Lord of the Ringson flick is entirely affiliate with the work ofPeter Jackson , who first adapted J.R.R. Tolkien ’s renowned trilogy and then kick the bucket back to work onThe Hobbit . An incomplete animatedLord of the Ringsfilm directed by Ralph Bakshi was released in 1978 to some winner , but this has largely been occult by the live - legal action blockbusters . However , a very differentLord of the Ringsmovie almost saw the light of sidereal day thanks to 1960s music phenomenon , The Beatles .
This concept is n’t really as strange as it vocalize . In decades by , it was n’t unusual for wildly popular music artists to have a impregnable bearing in motion-picture show dramatics . Despite being predominantly known as the King of Pop , Elvis Presley carved out a considerable performing calling and bands such as Pink Floyd and The Who released feature - distance movies based entirely around their music . The Beatlesthemselves enjoyed a drawstring of cinematic hits such asHelp!andA Hard Days Night . As such , the idea of The Beatles adapting Tolkien perhaps was n’t outlandish was it would be today .
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The Beatles ' interest in adaptingThe Lord of the Ringscame from Denis O’Dell , who had helped bring about the set ’s late big screen melodious endeavour . With one more film entrust on The Beatles ' contract bridge with United Artists , O’Dell thought his Fab Four would be ideally suit to the employment ofTolkien , and that Frodo ’s tale could be turn into a alive - action adventure asterisk the band . Of of course , the photographic film would ’ve been a musical , featuring new tunes from John , Paul , George and Ringo . After hearing O’Dell ’s musical theme , The Beatles themselves were incisive on pressing onwards , having been buff of the original books .
In the years since , it has been confirmed that Paul McCartney would ’ve portrayed protagonist Frodo , John Lennon would ’ve been Gollum , George Harrison was plant to play Gandalf and Ringo Starr would seem asSamwise Gamgee . As luck would have it , United Artists were also interested in making aLord of the Ringsmovie , meaning there was stake from the set , their direction and their contracted studio apartment - the stars come out to have coordinate on The Beatles coming to Middle - ground .
Unfortunately , two major obstacles would halt the projection in its tracks , the first being a conflict to put down a big - name music director . John Lennon was reportedly the driving violence behind The Beatles’Lord of the Ringsmovie and was eyeing Stanley Kubrick to take the feature . While Kubrick also had an kinship for the seed material , he was skeptical about the feasibleness of bringing Tolkien to live on - action in the 1960s , and after failing to land their man , The Beatles began to lose involvement in the idea all told . Another major setback total like a shot from Tolkien himself . According toPeter Jackson , The Beatles ' journeying to Mount Doom was killed off completely because Tolkien at this join still hold the right hand to his story and , not being an especially handsome fan of the band , refused to let four musician on copious amounts of drugs adjust his aliveness ’s work .
While the prospect is undoubtedly intriguing , specially moot Tolkien ’s mind - melt down Tom Bombadil chapters , it ’s perhaps a blessing that The Beatles’Lord of the Ringsfilm never got made . The musical , comedic and trippy nature of the circle ’s past cinematic efforts would ’ve been a pitiable fit for the world of Tolkien , undoubtedly upsetting the Book ' rooter in the procedure . Moreover , translating a believable Middle - terra firma into live - action was enough of a challenge in the other 2000s - to do so 40 years to begin with would ’ve been nigh - on impossible . Although the draw of The Beatles would ’ve guarantee a profits for all involved , a critical panning might ’ve taintedThe Lord of the Ringsas a workable picture show venture and ambush plans for a proper adaptation in later years .
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