Who was originally cast to play Aragorn in "The Lord of the Rings"?

The answer is: Stuart Townsend

Stuart Townsend actually filmed for four days as Aragorn before Peter Jackson made the tough call to recast the role. The Irish actor, then 26, had arrived in New Zealand ready to embark on the epic 18-month shoot. But something wasn't clicking.

Jackson needed an Aragorn who could embody a character carrying decades of wilderness experience and royal destiny. The ranger may have looked like a middle-aged man, but as one of the Dúnedain (a race blessed with long life), Aragorn was actually 87 years old. Townsend, despite his talent, just couldn't capture that weathered, world-weary quality Jackson envisioned. The director knew he had to act fast before they got too deep into production.

In a move that would give most producers heart palpitations, Jackson called Viggo Mortensen. The catch? Mortensen had never read Tolkien's books and knew nothing about the role. His 11-year-old son Henry, a huge "Lord of the Rings" fan, convinced him to take the part. Mortensen flew to New Zealand the next day, learning sword fighting and his lines simultaneously.

Townsend wasn't exactly thrilled about being let go. He'd spent two months training and claims he didn't even get paid, since his contract specified he needed to complete filming. Years later, he told Entertainment Weekly, "I was there rehearsing and training for two months, then was fired the day before filming began. After that I was told they wouldn't pay me because I was in breach of contract due to not having worked long enough." Several other actors had passed on the role before Townsend's casting, including Nicolas Cage and Daniel Day-Lewis.