Movies

Then & Now: See 'Lord of the Rings' Cast 22 Years Later

Then & Now: See 'Lord of the Rings' Cast 22 Years Later
Image credit: Legion-Media

It's been a mind-blowing 22 years since we first took that journey through Middle-earth with Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

That's right, two decades-plus of Gollum memes, "You shall not pass!" references, and daydreams about living in the Shire. But have you ever wondered what happened to the Fellowship after they hung up their swords and bows?

First up, Elijah Wood, our very own Frodo, has journeyed far from the Shire, swapping the One Ring for a toxic avenger. Then there's Viggo Mortensen, who traded his crown as Aragorn for a Freudian slip and a spot in Eureka. Orlando Bloom, meanwhile, continued to make hearts flutter post-Legolas, with upcoming roles that keep his star shining bright. And let's not forget John Rhys-Davies, who's gone from Gimli to reuniting with Indiana Jones, proving that there's life after the Mines of Moria.

Andy Serkis, once the master of motion capture as Gollum, is now a familiar face in major franchises, while Sir Ian McKellen continues to dazzle us both on stage and screen, from Shakespeare to superheroes. Sean Astin went from Samwise the Brave in "The Lord of the Rings " to fighting strange things in Hawkins, Indiana. Liv Tyler, our beloved Arwen, has gracefully transitioned from ethereal elf to superhero movies, proving that Middle-earth wasn't the end of her fantastical journeys. As for Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Sean Bean, and Cate Blanchett, their careers post-Middle-earth have been as varied and fascinating as the characters they portrayed in that legendary trilogy.