Keanu Reeves made a major pitch for a franchise film, personally reaching out to a certain iconic director.

If we know one thing for sure, it’s that Keanu Reeves doesn’t take on a role for the money.

That was apparent during the actor’s negotiations for Speed 2. He was offered a huge sum of money but just couldn’t agree given what the script had planned.

Instead, co-star Sandra Bullock accepted the role due to a certain condition being met, but she would soon regret it given how badly the film performed at the box office and in the reviews.

In the following, we’re going to take a closer look at a different situation. This time it was Keanu Reeves who wanted a role in a very iconic franchise.

However, Keanu was surprisingly turned down by the director. Looking back, it proved to be the right choice as Viggo Mortensen thrived in the role.

We’ll take a look back at Mortensen’s involvement in the film, and how it all came together at the last second.

Viggo Mortensen Wasn’t Given Much Time To Accept Aragorn In Lord Of The Rings

Looking back, Viggo Mortensen is truly irreplaceable in The Lord of the Rings franchise. However, his role in the film was a last minute decision, literally.

Peter Jackson caused chaos to production after the role of Aragorn was changed at the last second. When the offer came in, Mortensen didn’t have much time to think things through, he was on the clock.

The actor recalled the process, “Well, can I think about it for a minute,” he asked at the time. “Well, not very long. You have until this afternoon.”

Although the films proved to be smash hits, Viggo tells EW that things were very different behind the scenes.

Particularly during the second and third film, things got messy behind the scenes, especially from a production standpoint.

“Officially, [Jackson] could say that he was finished in December 2000—he’d shot all three films in the trilogy—but really the second and third ones were a mess,” Mortensen says.

“It was very sloppy—it just wasn’t done at all. It needed massive reshoots, which we did, year after year.

But he would have never been given the extra money to do those if the first one hadn’t been a huge success.

The second and third ones would have been straight to video.”

Despite the chaos and messiness, there was one particular actor who was still willing to appear in the film and in fact, he called Peter Jackson himself.

Keanu Reeves Had Major Interest In The Lord Of The Rings And Reached Out To Peter Jackson

Behind the scenes, there was fierce competition for the role of Aragorn. Mortensen landed the role, but there was serious interest elsewhere.

In fact, Stuart Towsend was initially cast, while Russel Crowe was also considered.

Keanu Reeves also factors in. It is said that the actor reached out to Peter Jackson himself, trying to secure the role of Aragorn.

It was not meant to be, but Keanu made his interest in the role very obvious over the years.

“I’m petitioning to play Strider. I’d love to work with [Peter Jackson], but I’m not sure if it’s going to go ahead. I hope I can.”

He continued at the time, “I want to play Strider in Lord Of The Rings. Peter Jackson is doing that and I might have to go begging for the role.

I have people making calls right now. Hopefully he’ll think I’m right for the part. I’m the man. I’m there.”

Who really knows what the film might’ve looked like had Keanu landed the role.

In truth, there were several other major names considered for the film. And in fact, many of the big names turned down the film.

Several A-List Actors Turned Down The Lord Of The Rings

Keanu Reeves couldn’t secure a role in the film, but several others ended up passing on It.

Sean Connery was among those A-list stars, according to the actor he just couldn’t understand the script given all the complexities involved.

“I read the script, I saw the movie. I still don’t understand it. Ian McKellen, I believe, is marvelous in it.”

Daniel Day-Lewis would also turn down the film given that he didn’t feel like a fit.

In addition, the actor wasn’t keen on playing the same role over and over again.

He revealed, “They can be fantastically entertaining for the people who love to see them, but it’s not for me,” he explained.

“If I found myself working on a film and during the course of that work I was bored, because I didn’t really know what the hell I was involved in, I would find that infinitely demoralizing and it might well make me decide to pack my bags.”

Among the other notable names to turn down The Lord of the Rings according to Looper includes Nicolas Cage, Kate Winslet, Uma Thurman, Ethan Hawke, and so many others.