Sean Astin says he was forced to sell his house at the peak of Lord of the Rings fame because of the small salary he negotiated to play Samwise Gamgee — a trilogy that took $2.9 billion at the global box office between 2001 and 2003.
Details:
- The interview: “There was a disconnect between the attention that I was getting and how much money we had,” Astin told The Guardian, adding that he sold his house because he “negotiated such a small amount on the trilogy.”
- The numbers: Astin has previously said he earned about $75,000 per film, roughly $250,000 in total. Orlando Bloom said in 2019 he was paid $175,000 for the trilogy.
- Why the pay was low: Peter Jackson shot all three films at once, removing any chance to renegotiate after each release. Elijah Wood has said New Line took a “real gamble,” so the cast was offered modest salaries.
- Where he stands now: Astin says he is “very comfortable financially now,” and would push for better terms if he returns to the role.
What to Watch:
The franchise is returning with Andy Serkis’s The Hunt for Gollum and a second film co-written by Stephen Colbert. Astin has not been confirmed for either.
Source: Variety
