Imagine this: you’re on a hot streak, having just crushed it in one of the biggest blockbuster franchises of the decade, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. You’ve tasted that sweet, sugary success and suddenly, another iconic role lands on your lap. A character so rich in depth, so soaked in honor and tragic downfall, that it could elevate your career into the stratosphere. Well, it’s Boromir from The Lord of the Rings. The catch? You might be thinking, “Who would turn that down?” But sometimes, the devil’s in the details. For Liam Neeson, the actor who was offered Boromir’s role, it wasn’t about fame or fortune; it was about shaking off a certain label!
Liam Neeson wasn’t just another actor looking for a paycheck. He had the world at his feet after Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace broke box-office records. Fresh off his success in the movie that boasted a budget of $115 million and grossed a staggering $1.047 billion worldwide, he was offered the role of Boromir. However, the role of Boromir, despite its gravitas and potential for unforgettable moments, came with an ominous shadow: Boromir dies early in the trilogy. Neeson, already familiar with the heartbreak of dying in a film (hello, Qui-Gon Jinn), didn’t want to repeat that déjà vu.
It’s a peculiar choice, isn’t it? After all, Boromir’s demise is a defining moment in The Lord of the Rings. Yet, for Neeson, that repeated death scene might have felt a bit too predictable, like an actor forever tied to a specific mold, forever cast as the sacrificial figure. He chose to pass. Instead, he carved his path elsewhere, starring in Gangs of New York, Love Actually, and Batman Begins. But the role of Boromir was left to someone else.
Now, who could step into those boots of Boromir? Enter Sean Bean, a man whose face seemed almost as synonymous with on-screen death as it was with the role of a hero. In the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Bean’s portrayal of Boromir became iconic—his fall from grace, driven by pride and ambition, resonated with audiences far and wide. What’s more, Bean himself was no stranger to being the guy who meets an early end. In fact, he would go on to die a tragic death in Game of Thrones as Ned Stark, making it a career trademark of sorts.
Who would’ve thought? Well, imagine if Neeson had taken the role. His gravitas could have shifted the tone of the character, perhaps even altering Boromir’s arc in the eyes of audiences. Would his death have hit as hard if we’d already seen him in multiple roles where he met his demise? The what-ifs pile up. But as with all things in film, we can’t help but wonder: What if things had been different? What if Neeson had taken the role? Would Boromir have left the same mark? Would The Lord of the Rings still be the cultural touchstone that it is today?
We’ll never know. But that’s the magic of cinema—the infinite possibilities, the road not taken, and the what-could-have-been scenarios. All of it contributes to the vibrant tapestry that continues to captivate audiences even decades later. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is streaming on Max. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is available on Disney+.
