Ringbearer has posted a terrific article from the Queensland Courier-Mail about Sean Bean and his role as Boromir in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. Following is a brief excerpt; click on the link below it to read the entire article.

“It is totally unbelievable. I am dipping from one script to another, all printed in different colours, because all the films are being done at the same time. The whole thing was cast very late, and I think it was touch and go right up to starting. It is a bigger investment than Titanic and a lot of careers are sitting on this right to the end.”

He admits he never got around to reading The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien, the former Oxford University professor who delivered the bestseller in the mid-1950s.

The novels are set in the Third Age of Middle-earth, an invented prehistoric era populated with hobbits, elves, trolls, orcs and humans.

“To me, it is a grown-up fairytale that is dark and sinister” says Bean. “But it is an incredible fantasy that is quite wonderful and leaves you full of hope.”

His 39-year-old director will be sharing that hope. At a point a few years ago when it looked as if the trilogy would finally be made with European film-fund cash, Sean Connery was penciled in as wise wizard Gandalf; Nicol Williamson as Saruman, chief of all wizards; Isabelle Adjani as Arwen, the young elf warrior; and Greta Scacchi as the elf Galadriel, wise and visionary queen of Lorien.