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Personally, I think the most interesting bit of almost-casting in the history of the Lord of the Rings franchise was when David Bowie almost played Elrond (it's true - look it up). However, I don't think it's terribly uninteresting either that an ex-James Bond nearly donned the Grey-then-White robes of the franchise's main wizard himself. And apparently, neither does the guy who made those movies. 

Yes, 25 years after The Fellowship of the Ring debuted in theaters, Peter Jackson is wondering what life would've been like if Sean Connery had played Gandalf.

The story comes from a recent edition of Empire Magazine, in which some of the biggest names behind Fellowship of the Ring looked back on the film as it approached its Silver Anniversary. But first, some context. I'm not just making up the idea of Sean Connery possibly playing Gandalf - the atcor famously said no to the role as the casting for Fellowship was underway.

"I read the book," Connery reportedly said to The New Zealand Herald, "I read the script. I saw the movie. I still don’t understand it."

A quarter century later, Peter Jackson pictures what would've happened if he had.

"I am the wielder of a sccchecret fire," Jackson jokes, apparently willing to alienate Scottish fans everywhere.

"Look, I'm only speculating," continues the director, "But I just can't imagine Sean Connery being as supportive as Ian McKellen was, and being as willing to do whatever we wanted as Ian was, and being as tolerant as Ian was." 

Having never met Sean Connery personally, I have no idea if Connery would've been as difficult as Jackson seems to be implying here, but I will say I'm thrilled the world ended up with Sir Ian McKellen in the role of Gandalf in any case. Still, if the world really wants to know what a Sean Connery-as-Gandalf world would've looked like, maybe the cast and crew could stage a reading, with someone pretending to be the first Bond.

We know just the impressionist that could do it. 

Whether you're Shirefolk, Elven, Dwarven, or something else, there's a good reason to love Lord of the Rings. We do! With that in mind, we have a dragon's horde of goodies for you:

• Lord of the Rings reading guide 
• Lord of the Rings watch guide
• The Lord of the Rings reunion panel you can watch 
• The OG Hobbit actors stay in touch every day on a groupchat 
• The true message of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, according to Gimli himself - John Rhys-Davies.