C2E2's Lord of the Rings Reunion Full of Mischief, Laughter and Tears
- Marielle Bokor
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
Full cast reunions are hard to come by, but this year’s C2E2 boasted one every single day of the con. And when you kick off the entire event with the Lord of the Rings cast, you know you’re starting on a great note.
The filming of an epic adventure based on one of the most influential fantasy novels of all time is in itself an epic adventure. There’s nothing simple about taking Tolkien’s work and translating it to the big screen in a way that accurately represents the scale and scope of the story. But that’s exactly what Peter Jackson did with his amazing trilogy of films, alongside an amazing cast that provided some truly once-in-a-lifetime performances.
Friday’s Lord of the Rings Reunion panel included Sean Astin, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd, and it was clear from moment one that they weren’t just happy to see each other - they were thick as thieves, and as a fan of the series who loves nothing more than the power of friendship, watching the cast hug, laugh, and make playful jabs just brought a smile to my face - and I’m sure the faces of many of the packed room’s patrons.
The making of such a film series is no easy feat, and while all the cast members ultimately remember it fondly, they all also recall how difficult it was. Sean Astin remarked that at one point, as the filming in New Zealand hit the five month mark, he wondered if he could go on, though he was also quick to mention that he “could not possibly have greater fortune in life than to be in Lord of the Rings. "
It’s clear that the time spent on set was emotional for everyone though. Even Rhys-Davies, who, with a glint in his eye made mischief during the panel, joking about everything including ‘those bloody elves' in true dwarven fashion, had emotional moments they recalled.
Several of the cast mentioned moments like when Frodo and Gandalf sail to Rivendell, recalling that the scene absolutely destroyed them, as well as in Return of the King, when Aragorn says “you shall bow to no one, my friends.”
There was also a lot of talk about what “precious” items the cast may have kept from filming. Dominic Monaghan seemed like he had a lot to say about this, mentioning that he once saw a fake auction for the sword he carried (which was actually presented to him) before Astin quipped that Monaghan couldn’t assume we’re all friends here when ‘they’re asking about larceny.’ S
Still, it turns out the cast was actually gifted with many precious items, including the hobbit feet they used, backpacks they carried, swords and parts of their costumes, as filming wrapped.
But Astin had a more personal story to tell that made him emotional even in the panel room. When filming in New Zealand on sacred land, the film’s production team wanted to pay proper respects. This meant the inclusion of Maori tribe elders, who impressed upon the cast and crew their need to respect the land and be stewards of it while they were there. At the time of this first meeting with the tribe, Astin’s daughter, who played Elanor in Return of the King, was just a baby.
Two years later, as filming wrapped up, and the Maori tribesmen returned with blessings for the cast, they also presented his daughter with a sized up version of the dress she’d worn originally. Another full circle moment, and another wonderful story we’re so glad to have gotten to hear. We could’ve listened to them reminisce for hours, but alas, we had other amazing fandoms to celebrate and plenty more to do on the show floor.
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