Most people know James Corden as the bombastic host of CBS‘ “The Late Late Show.” Or audiences may know him from his pitiful acting in the likes of “Ocean’s 8,” “Cinderella,” or 2019’s execrable laugh riot “Cats.” But in some deranged alternate universe, James Corden might have landed the role of Samwise Gamgee over Sean Astin in Peter Jackson‘s “The Lord Of The Rings” film trilogy. So let’s all remain thankful that potential world doesn’t exist.
Variety reports that on the latest episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Corden confirmed a long-standing rumor that he auditioned for the role of Samwise in London at the start of his career. “Yeah,” Corden admitted to the podcast hosts, but he added that his audition was “not good.” “Every single person in London auditioned for ‘Lord of the Rings.’ Everybody,” said Corden. “I auditioned for Samwise. I was doing it! The accent and everything! ‘Mr Frodo!’” Imagining Corden alongside Elijah Wood‘s Frodo should send shivers down the spine of any “Lord Of The Rings” fans. But it’s clear from the rest of Corden’s story that he didn’t get very far in auditions.
Thankfully, Corden and his friends didn’t make it much further before casting axed them. “Two of my other friends went in,” Corden continued, “and we all got called back the next day, and then we got called back the next day. And then none of us got called back after that!” Despite missing out on the role, Corden still went to see Jackson’s films. “I enjoyed it until the last one, and then I was sort of like, ‘Oh, ok, I’ve seen this now — I should’ve gone to see “Love Actually.””
Of course, Corden eventually gained stardom, going from bit roles in stuff like “The History Boys” and “How To Lose Friends & Alienate People” in the mid-2000s to larger roles in 2014’s “Into The Woods” and voice work in 2018’s “Peter Rabbit” and its 2021 sequel. But Corden’s launching pad came from hosting “The Brit Awards” five times between 2009-2015, leading to him taking over “The Late Late Show” from Craig Ferguson in 2015. However, Corden leaves the late-night desk sometime next year.
