Can’t imagine another actor playing Gimli other than John Rhys-Davies.

Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy has remained one of the most timeless and beloved movies of all time, and it would be shocking to know that one of the popular dwarves in the tale, Gimli, was almost never played by John Rhys-Davies.

Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings
The actor has a strong reason for initially rejecting the role, but it would be difficult to imagine another actor filling in the shoes because he did the part in the most iconic way. So, why did Rhys-Davies want to decline the role, and what made him change his mind?

John Rhys-Davies Wasn’t A Fan Of Fantasy Movies

John Rhys-Davies as Gimli in Lord of the Rings

Speaking in an interview with Digital Spy, actor John Rhys-Davies revealed he was initially not interested in the project. The Welsh star did not find it amusing to wear heavy prosthetics for a movie he was not sure was going to be successful.

“I didn’t want to do it at first. I didn’t want to spend three years in prosthetic makeup on a film that was going to fail. It was Jackson himself that forced me to say yes. When I saw him direct, and saw the mastery that he had with his crew and his actors, I did a 180-degree turn.”

Of course, director Peter Jackson wouldn’t disappoint. His talent for creating a fantasy world like that in the Lord of the Rings remains unmatched. In the end, Rhys-Davies knew he made the right decision.

“I was the very first person to say, ‘Gentlemen, revise your expectations – upwards – because these films are going to be amongst the biggest grossing films of their time, and when you look back in 10 or 20 years at the best films of your lifetime, this trilogy is going to be there.’ I think it’s borne out by the facts – I got it right.”

The actor claimed he isn’t a huge fan of fantasy movies. He said in another conversation with the outlet, “I’m not a science-fantasy man, I’m more a pure science-fiction man.” It’s definitely a huge surprise that he ended up loving Lord of the Rings.

John Rhys-Davies On What Makes Lord Of The Rings A Special Film

John Rhys-Davies as Gimli in Lord of the Rings
John Rhys-Davies reflected on his time filming for Lord of the Rings during his interview with ITV News. When asked what makes the movie so special, he promptly responded:

“Because it’s a great moral story. Lord of the Rings is not just about fantasy. It actually is a fable about evil and facing it and having the courage to see it through.”

If there was anything that changed in him after starring in the fantasy adventure movie, it’s his love for people.

“I love fan conventions. Fan conventions have done more to change me than any other single thing. When I was your age, I don’t think I really liked people. Fan conventions have taught me that, more and more, I like people.”

It’s truly a fateful event how the actor ended up appearing in one of the most celebrated movies of this generation, a film that will surely survive the test of time.

Lord of the Rings is available to stream on Netflix.