Orlando Bloom revealed in a 2019 interview with Howard Stern that he came close to landing the lead role of Christian in Baz Luhrmann’s “Moulin Rouge!” back in 2001, before his breakthrough in “The Lord of the Rings.” Bloom auditioned for the role six times and believed it might have been his big break just before his audition for “Lord of the Rings.”
The filmmakers initially considered casting unknown actors for “Moulin Rouge!,” which would have positioned Bloom as the newcomer alongside Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. However, they ultimately opted for established stars Kidman and McGregor, taking the production in a different direction.
Despite missing out on “Moulin Rouge!,” Bloom’s career soared when he secured the role of Legolas in Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” in 2001. This marked his breakthrough, playing the heroic Elf throughout the “Rings” trilogy, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novels. Despite earning a modest salary of $175,000 for all three films, Bloom acknowledged that the role of Legolas was transformative for his career, describing it as “the greatest gift of my life.”
Subsequently, Bloom continued to achieve success, notably as Will Turner in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series and reprising his role as Legolas in “The Hobbit” films. His journey from nearly starring in “Moulin Rouge!” to becoming a pivotal figure in major film franchises underscores the unpredictable paths of Hollywood careers.
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