Famous American actor Elijah Wood said that those who played in the "Lord of the Rings" films were not paid a lot, and that appearing in the trilogy was "a real gamble."
Wood told Business Insider at the Texas Film Awards in March that the actors had to sign contracts for all three films in advance, which meant their fees were not dependent on the financial success of the franchise.
"Since we weren't making one movie and then negotiating a new contract for the next one, it wasn't the kind of lucrative business you could live off of for the rest of your life," he explained.
Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson's trilogy based on JRR Tolkien's epic novels, said the actors were aware of the importance of the project.
"The advantage of that was that we simultaneously became part of something that will forever remain a part of our lives," he pointed out.
There were previous claims that Wood earned around $250 (around €226) for the first film, but the actor told Business Insider that this amount was not accurate and that "it doesn't matter anyway."
It has often been pointed out that the Lord of the Rings cast was paid significantly less than the stars of other Hollywood films. Cate Blanchett, who played the elf Galadriel, stated in 2024 that she "practically got free sandwiches" and that "nobody got paid." Orlando Bloom, who played Legolas, said in 2019 that he received a total of $175 (€158) for all three films, while Sean Astin (who played Samwise Gamgee) said he earned $250 (€226).
Peter Jackson's trilogy, released in theaters between 2001 and 2003, grossed a total of $2,96 billion at the global box office, while its budget was around $281 million.
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