Sean Connery said "no" to Lord of the Rings

Actors turn down some roles because of money, some because of the script, and Sean Connery turned down one of the biggest offers of his career because he simply didn't understand the film.

In the late 1990s, he was offered the chance to join the cast of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which was to be filmed in New Zealand. Connery was intrigued by the offer, and began reading the first book in J. R. R. Tolkien's series, The Fellowship of the Ring.

However, the complex world of fantasy failed to interest him. The role of Gandalf, the wizard with long white hair, was intended for him, but Connery ultimately decided to turn it down.

Years later, he explained to the New Zealand Herald that he tried to understand the story in every way possible:

"I read the book. I read the script. I watched the movie. I still don't understand it."

Connery's rejection came at a time when the production was considering other big names for the role. Among those linked to the role were Patrick Stewart, Anthony Hopkins, Patrick McGoohan, and Sam Neill, but Gandalf ultimately went to Ian McKellen.

It's hard to imagine anyone else in the role today, especially considering how recognizable McKellen's Gandalf has become. However, Connery's decision was particularly costly.

He was set to receive $10 million for the role, along with 15 percent of the profits from all three films. Given the huge box office profits of the trilogy, his share would have brought him an estimated $450 million.

For Connery, however, even such an offer was not enough to accept something he did not feel comfortable with. The actor already had the role of James Bond behind him, which brought him worldwide fame, but also numerous other significant films, so he was clearly not ready to accept the project just because of the huge fee.

The trilogy's director, Peter Jackson, later said that he was actually glad that Connery turned down the role. He felt that he could hardly imagine an actor playing Gandalf in the way that Ian McKellen did.

Connery's decision thus remained one of the most famous missed opportunities in Hollywood history – not because he turned down a big film, but because he said "no" to a role that could have brought him a fortune that few actors have ever earned.