HOLLYWOOD - John Lennon as Gollum? Paul McCartney as Frodo Baggins?Apparently, the Beatles, with Lennon at the helm, wanted to make their own version of The Lord of the Rings in the 1960s, director Peter Jackson told the New Zealand paper Evening Post, but the plan was shot down by author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Jackson's own brilliant adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring, the first in the classic triology, just won four Oscars on Sunday, and it was at the ceremony when ex-Beatle Paul McCartney told Jackson about Lennon's grand plan to bring Rings to life, the Post reported.
"It was something John was driving, and J.R.R. Tolkien still had the film rights at that stage, but he didn't like the idea of the Beatles doing it. So he killed it," Jackson said.
George Harrison was going to play Gandalf the wizard, who advises the hapless Frodo, played by McCartney, on his journey. Ringo Starr was to play Frodo's devoted friend, Sam.
Lennon wanted to tackle the part of the greedy, slimy Gollum, who tracks the heroes, trying all he can to get his "precious"--the all-powerful ring--back in his possession.
"There probably would've been some good songs coming off the album," Jackson said to the Post.
No doubt.