With FanX 2025 right around the corner, it's time to do what we should have done 11 months ago and post some panel highlights from FanX 2024 (whoops!). One of the most anticipated panels of last year's convention was slated to feature prominent members of the "Lord of the Rings" cast - Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan and John Rhys-Davies, although Astin was caught up somewhere else in the Salt Palace and was unable to make it to the Grand Ballroom stage in time. Undaunted, Wood, Boyd, Monaghan and Rhys-Davies served up a delightful panel, bantering amongst themselves and answering fan questions for the better part of an hour.
Here is a transcription showcasing some of the fun:
Elijah Wood Talks About Frodo
Elijah Wood: He’s Bilbo’s nephew – almost raised by Bilbo – and Bilbo carries with him a taste of adventure, which is very uncommon. Hobbits don’t like to stray outside of the Shire, and they don’t like to know what’s going on in the outside world because it potentially presents dangers. They like to be safe and comfortable and warm and cozy. Frodo grew up hearing these incredible tales, and I think part of what propels him forward with this – initially – with this particular ask is very simple. I don’t think Frodo understands, and I don’t think even Gandalf understands, that that’s going to be Frodo’s fate. It’s just “Let’s get this ring to Rivendell,” essentially, right? And it’s not until then that he really decides that it’s his fate or that he’ll sort of take up the mantle of taking the ring. And I don’t even really think that in that moment that he realizes that he’s potentially leaving all of that behind. I think there’s a sense of wanderlust and adventure… He leaves the Shire with the potentiality of seeing elves and, sort of, walk in the footsteps of his uncle. So, I think that’s the impotence, and I think once he’s gotten far enough along, like in the Mines of Moria, he realizes: “Wait a second… This is way [expletive] too much!” (Audience laughs) “Can’t we just give it away??” And then [he], ultimately, realizes that it’s something that he’s got to do, and he’s built of that stuff – and I think all of the hobbits are. I think they’re all made of something – an internal sort of fortitude that is beyond that of men and other creatures of Middle-earth.
On the most influential factors in their lives:
Dominic Monaghan: I think the biggest kind of individual factor in my life that influences me is the natural world – nature – so, wild animals and trees and anything… (audience cheers) That’s kind of my spiritual path.
Wood: I’d say, um, there have been so many things that have had an impact on my life, but music would be the top of the list, in regards to… (audience cheers, inaudible) …who I am as a person, my world view, everything, you know.
Billy Boyd: Sitting next to this man (Boyd gestures to John Rhys-Davies, audience laughs and cheers).
John Rhys-Davies: …In answer to your question, you do realize I belong to your grandparents’ generation, and we used to have – in little towns – we would have three cinemas, each of which would be showing a double-bill, and it would change in the middle of the week. And then, on Sundays, we would also have an extra change, as well, so I got to see hundreds of films. But the one, for me, that worked was “High Noon.” I thought I really wanted to live my life like that – be a man of principle, you know? Pity it didn’t work out that way.
Regarding some (legitimate?) confusion over Legolas’ outfit:
Regarding some (legitimate?) confusion over Legolas’ outfit:
Wood: Is this true – that when we shot Lothlórien – they hadn’t finalized Legolas’ outfit yet? Do you remember that?
Boyd: No!
Wood: Legolas’ outfit was a work in progress. Do you remember? It just occurred to me now. I believe we shot a different outfit during the Lothlórien sequence.
Boyd: I think you’re right, yeah – a tutu! (Audience laughs)
Wood: The design changed.
Boyd, unconvincingly: Uh huh. Yeah.
Wood: The design changed. It was a work in progress.
On whether they still all hang out, post-LOTR:
Wood: We see each other quite a lot on the circuit. … Three of us live in Los Angeles…
[An unidentifiable voice notes that Sean Astin lives there, as well.]
Wood: I haven’t seen Viggo [Mortenson] in a while.
Rhys-Davies: He’s been directing, too, for goodness’ sake. He hasn’t got any time, at the moment.
Boyd: We just Zoomed with Josh Gad during COVID experience we all went through, and that was very special for all of us. And then, it seems to happen that, like, sometime around the Christmas period…
Monaghan: We might get involved in some sort of chain of emails, where someone – I seem to remember, like, last year – Cate Blanchett was like, “Happy Christmas!” And there was a little photo in there, very clearly in France – and a little photo with her cat – sparked a little chatter, so… it happens. We’re all busy.
Boyd: It’s lovely to see each other.
Monaghan: I seem to remember the “Friends” cast saying that they all go their separate ways, but then, when they see each other, that’s it for the rest of the night – they’re with each other. That seems to be the case between these three boys.
Boyd: Everyone’s busy doing stuff, but if you see that person…
Monaghan: That’s your person for the rest of the night.
*****
Rhys-Davies and Astin have been announced to return to Salt Lake next weekend for FanX 2025, along with LOTR alums Miranda Otto and Lawrence Makoare. Actor David Wenham was originally announced as a guest but has since postponed his appearance.
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Until next time!
