Sam Neill has revealed he was forced to turn down a role in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, one of the most successful film franchises in cinema history, because he was already committed to other projects at the time. The New Zealand actor, who built a career on versatile and often demanding roles in films such as Possession, Jurassic Park and The Piano, was reportedly considered for the part of Gandalf, which ultimately went to Ian McKellen when The Fellowship of the Ring was released in 2001.

Neill confirmed that Jackson "did offer me a role" but explained he "was unable to do it because I had other commitments", adding that he remains keen to work with the director should a further instalment ever be made. The Fellowship of the Ring went on to gross $897.5 million, with the trilogy eventually taking billions worldwide; Neill was not the only actor to turn down Gandalf, as Sean Connery and Patrick Stewart also declined the role, with Connery reportedly offered $10 million plus a 15% cut of the trilogy's gross.