Stuart Townsend

[Auroranorth]

I've heard two rumors. The kinder one, is that he was just too young to bring the 'world-weary' Aragorn to life. The harsher one is that he wasn't committed enough to the role, and didn't have the chops PJ expected and needed for Aragorn.

I don't know which version of the rumor is true, but:

A) Aragorn was supposed to be in his fifties (I think) in the book although he didn't look it due to his elven blood, therefore Stuart Townsend was a strange casting choice. I just cannot picture him as Aragorn- he's too pretty-boy and too young. Viggo was a much better choice on looks alone.

B) He doesn't strike me as being as intense as Viggo. Admittedly Viggo carries it to extremes, but I haven't seen the kind of concentration that made Aragorn work as a character in ST's performances. I have a hard time picturing ST taking care of his own costume, even doing the mending on it, or wanting extra scenes in Elvish, or putting in the time the way VM did. I know that not all actors work that way, for example, Meryl Streep is known for being in character when it's time and then calmly going home at night. However, in this instance the extra passion showed.

[Deleted]

Wallflower I guess it's just different strokes. Cause I think he looks great in the first two pics. Especially the year he wore the white jacket to the Oscars.

I tend to believe the age thing because of the casting of Viggo. It seems clear that they went for the older more world weary sort. And it really was more appropriate. The character of Aragon has been through so much and he's supposed to be in his 60's I think.

I have a hard time picturing ST taking care of his own costume, even doing the mending on it, or wanting extra scenes in Elvish, or putting in the time the way VM did. I know that not all actors work that way, for example, Meryl Streep is known for being in character when it's time and then calmly going home at night. However, in this instance the extra passion showed.

Part of the reason that Viggo did a lot of those things was because he was cast and flew in about 24 hours before filming began. He had a lot of ground to make up to create the character. I think Stuart is pretty intense himself. QotD was a pretty intense character and he really was that character. Honestly I think that ST would have been good as Aragorn but Viggo was better.

[MrsCatHead]

Something about this man is just weird. He looks prissy and mean at the same time. Just. Plain. Weird.

[realitybug]

Auroranorth said:

A) Aragorn was supposed to be in his fifties (I think) in the book although he didn't look it due to his elven blood, therefore Stuart Townsend was a strange casting choice.

I'm a LOTR geek, and Aragorn is in his late 80's at that time. Also, he does not have elven blood. He was raised in the elf world, by Elrond. He comes from the line of Isildur, who was king. But his father was a chieftain of the Dunedain, who are the Rangers, and they are a very rare line of Men and live long and age slowly. Just thought I'd correct...haha.

[Deleted]

I saw new photos of him attending the ABC Summer TCA Tour yesterday, and he looks miserable. He's such a sourpuss.

[Deleted]

realitybug said:

Auroranorth said:

A) Aragorn was supposed to be in his fifties (I think) in the book although he didn't look it due to his elven blood, therefore Stuart Townsend was a strange casting choice.

I'm a LOTR geek, and Aragorn is in his late 80's at that time. Also, he does not have elven blood. He was raised in the elf world, by Elrond. He comes from the line of Isildur, who was king. But his father was a chieftain of the Dunedain, who are the Rangers, and they are a very rare line of Men and live long and age slowly. Just thought I'd correct...haha.

IIRC, Isildur was the descendent of Elrond's twin brother. Elrond and his brother were both the product of marriage of elf and man, (I think), and they each chose a different path-Elrond to remain in the Elvish world, his brother with the Men. So there's SOME Elvish blood in them, although it's way back, which probably accounts for the long life and slow aging.

[Auroranorth]

guinastasia said:

realitybug said:

I'm a LOTR geek, and Aragorn is in his late 80's at that time. Also, he does not have elven blood. He was raised in the elf world, by Elrond. He comes from the line of Isildur, who was king. But his father was a chieftain of the Dunedain, who are the Rangers, and they are a very rare line of Men and live long and age slowly. Just thought I'd correct...haha.

IIRC, Isildur was the descendent of Elrond's twin brother. Elrond and his brother were both the product of marriage of elf and man, (I think), and they each chose a different path-Elrond to remain in the Elvish world, his brother with the Men. So there's SOME Elvish blood in them, although it's way back, which probably accounts for the long life and slow aging.

Thanks to all who corrected me- my book's at home and the exact ages slipped right by me anyway.

Moving right along, is Townsend doing anything now? I haven't heard of any projects with him involved.

[Deleted]

Yes he's starring in a new series this fall NightStalker

[JeanBean]

Saw the ads for Nightstalker last night and by god, it looks awful. Too bad, because I like Gabrielle Union.

Supernatural thriller dramas are all the rage on TV right now, aren't they? Granted, I was watching Medium, so of course they'd play such ads then, but I was flipping back and forth between that and The Sixth Sense, and there were also ads for something called Surfacing, and some other similar show I can't remember the title of...

Anyway, back on topic: ST has kind of a pin head. Every time he was on screen I was distracted by it.

[Deleted]

I've watched The Night Stalker pilot. It's good, and I think it will do well for Stuart's career if the ratings are decent.

Recent candid photos of him and Charlize in Malibu:

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