Latest news with #OneRing
The Age
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
The app-ocalypse: Please, I beg, don't make me download one more app
Long, long ago (2009), in a far-off place (my youth), the words 'there's an app for that' were the kind to evoke intrigue, novelty, maybe even excitement. It was a world where, previously, the internet was something you opened up on your computer, firing up Firefox and expanding your bookmarks for your daily dose of friends' lives on Facebook, celebrity gossip on Oh No They Didn't, and cute cat memes on I Can Haz Cheezburger. And then – and then – you closed it and walked away and just, like, existed in the world. Disconnected. You hung a calendar on your wall to keep track of important dates. You had a notepad on your desk to add and cross off items on your to-do list. When you went to a restaurant, you gave your order to a staff member after perusing a paper menu. You printed off directions before you travelled somewhere new. On a night out, you took 126 photos on a digital camera, which you then diligently hooked up to your computer to upload every single photo, unfiltered, to your MySpace. You read physical books or, if you were lucky, an e-reader. You listened to music on an MP3 player loaded with 30 songs you had to manually change whenever you wanted a new playlist. You were happy. But on the horizon, there were these mysterious things that your richer friends might already have access to — smartphones. And they had apps for everything. Well, not everything. But things that felt important. Like calculators and music, and that one visual that made it look like you were drinking beer when you tilted it to your mouth. They were practically magic. And then the magic turned darker than whatever was in the One Ring that made Gollum look like that. These days, if I hear the words 'there's an app for that' – as I so often do – I can't help but shudder. Since that early, heady time when iPhones felt like a rare and precious object, we have not only achieved smartphone ubiquity but also full app overload. There is now quite literally an app for everything, and it is simply too many apps. I log appointments on a calendar app. I make notes on a notes app. I have two apps for email, three for maps, four separate apps on which I Iisten to music, podcasts, and audiobooks, and nine on which I pay subscriptions to gain access to the small number of TV shows and movies on each that I want to/have time to watch. I have more than a dozen social media apps, and offshoots of those apps (remember when messenger was within Facebook and not a whole separate thing?). I have multiple apps for various cinemas, grocery stores, meal delivery services, rideshares/taxis, real estate companies, photos and videos, individual stores I wanted one single dress from in 2023, even household appliances — you name it, I have an app for it. And I know what you're thinking. Just don't download the apps, right? Well, I try. Sometimes, I really try. I've mostly opted out of tracking apps these days, which I previously used excessively when I had a newborn to remember ever poo, feed, and slight mood change my tiny little terror — I mean angel — had. I've completely avoided any AI app because, well, that's a whole other subject of dark magic and doom. Then there was the time I refused to download an authenticator app — an app that exists purely to allow you to login to other apps — because I thought I could just get all my two-factor authentication codes SMSed to me to pile up in my unread notifications for eternity like a normal person. And then Elon Musk took over Twitter, and arbitrarily decided you had to use an authenticator app unless you paid him, and I got logged out — and locked out — of my account for 16 months. This is all without mentioning the apps you literally need to function on a daily basis. And I'm not even talking about the ones that are convenient but replaceable, like the clock app or the weather app. I mean, like, the two separate apps I have to communicate with my kid's daycare. Or the three separate apps I use to manage my money. And, naturally, the three to five games I'm addicted to at any given time. If you want to make a doctor's appointment, there's an app. If you want to access a government service, there's an app. If you want to pay for parking, there's an app. If you want to order off a damn menu, there's not only a QR code but also — you guessed it — an app! I have three different apps for separate ultrasound services I used across my two pregnancies (long gone are the days you got printed out photos of your fetus — now you download them from an app!).
Sydney Morning Herald
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
The app-ocalypse: Please, I beg, don't make me download one more app
Long, long ago (2009), in a far-off place (my youth), the words 'there's an app for that' were the kind to evoke intrigue, novelty, maybe even excitement. It was a world where, previously, the internet was something you opened up on your computer, firing up Firefox and expanding your bookmarks for your daily dose of friends' lives on Facebook, celebrity gossip on Oh No They Didn't, and cute cat memes on I Can Haz Cheezburger. And then – and then – you closed it and walked away and just, like, existed in the world. Disconnected. You hung a calendar on your wall to keep track of important dates. You had a notepad on your desk to add and cross off items on your to-do list. When you went to a restaurant, you gave your order to a staff member after perusing a paper menu. You printed off directions before you travelled somewhere new. On a night out, you took 126 photos on a digital camera, which you then diligently hooked up to your computer to upload every single photo, unfiltered, to your MySpace. You read physical books or, if you were lucky, an e-reader. You listened to music on an MP3 player loaded with 30 songs you had to manually change whenever you wanted a new playlist. You were happy. But on the horizon, there were these mysterious things that your richer friends might already have access to — smartphones. And they had apps for everything. Well, not everything. But things that felt important. Like calculators and music, and that one visual that made it look like you were drinking beer when you tilted it to your mouth. They were practically magic. And then the magic turned darker than whatever was in the One Ring that made Gollum look like that. These days, if I hear the words 'there's an app for that' – as I so often do – I can't help but shudder. Since that early, heady time when iPhones felt like a rare and precious object, we have not only achieved smartphone ubiquity but also full app overload. There is now quite literally an app for everything, and it is simply too many apps. I log appointments on a calendar app. I make notes on a notes app. I have two apps for email, three for maps, four separate apps on which I Iisten to music, podcasts, and audiobooks, and nine on which I pay subscriptions to gain access to the small number of TV shows and movies on each that I want to/have time to watch. I have more than a dozen social media apps, and offshoots of those apps (remember when messenger was within Facebook and not a whole separate thing?). I have multiple apps for various cinemas, grocery stores, meal delivery services, rideshares/taxis, real estate companies, photos and videos, individual stores I wanted one single dress from in 2023, even household appliances — you name it, I have an app for it. And I know what you're thinking. Just don't download the apps, right? Well, I try. Sometimes, I really try. I've mostly opted out of tracking apps these days, which I previously used excessively when I had a newborn to remember ever poo, feed, and slight mood change my tiny little terror — I mean angel — had. I've completely avoided any AI app because, well, that's a whole other subject of dark magic and doom. Then there was the time I refused to download an authenticator app — an app that exists purely to allow you to login to other apps — because I thought I could just get all my two-factor authentication codes SMSed to me to pile up in my unread notifications for eternity like a normal person. And then Elon Musk took over Twitter, and arbitrarily decided you had to use an authenticator app unless you paid him, and I got logged out — and locked out — of my account for 16 months. This is all without mentioning the apps you literally need to function on a daily basis. And I'm not even talking about the ones that are convenient but replaceable, like the clock app or the weather app. I mean, like, the two separate apps I have to communicate with my kid's daycare. Or the three separate apps I use to manage my money. And, naturally, the three to five games I'm addicted to at any given time. If you want to make a doctor's appointment, there's an app. If you want to access a government service, there's an app. If you want to pay for parking, there's an app. If you want to order off a damn menu, there's not only a QR code but also — you guessed it — an app! I have three different apps for separate ultrasound services I used across my two pregnancies (long gone are the days you got printed out photos of your fetus — now you download them from an app!).
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR legend joins Goldberg in the ring for emotional WWE Farewell
WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg's wrestling career came to an end on July 12 in Atlanta but the biggest surprise for NASCAR fans came after the final bell. As the WWE Hall of Famer stood in the ring after his last match, NASCAR legend Tony Stewart walked out turning an already emotional goodbye into something even more special. Goldberg, 58, went out the only way he knew how, fighting. He faced World Heavyweight Champion Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event XL and pushed the younger star to the limit in a hard-hitting final match. After the match the WWE legend thanked the Atlanta crowd and talked about his career and what's next, including a new car-themed show called Car-lectibles. But just when you thought the night was over Tony Stewart appeared first at ringside then in the ring with Goldberg. Standing side by side the two legends from different worlds shared a moment that immediately went viral. Also Read:: WWE legend reacts to Kyle Larson copying his iconic signature celebration Two Legends, One Ring The two men have been friends for a while. Last year they traded jokes about Toyotas and Mopar loyalty. A bit of friendly trash talk that fans loved. Seeing them together again, this time in the ring was the payoff. Tony Stewart wasn't just there to watch. He was part of the WWE moment. Fans quickly noticed Stewart's new lean look. He's been training hard for the NHRA drag racing season. 'Tony looks like he could get in the ring' one fan joked online. But there's a real connection between the two. Goldberg is a Mopar guy and a fixture in the racing world off screen. Stewart and his wife drag racer Leah Pruett are tied to that same world. Their shared love of cars, speed and performance made this crossover feel natural, two legends supporting each other in a new setting. Also Read:: NASCAR Breaks It Up: Gibbs & Keselowski Pit Crews Nearly Come to Blows at Sonoma Related Headlines NHL Rumors: Florida Panthers Trading Evan Rodrigues Now Nearly Guaranteed? NASCAR News: Jimmie Johnson's Team Sues Former Ally, Accuses ex-spire Exec of NASCAR Sabotage Texas Rangers game today: Includes full 2025 TV schedule Wyndham Clark Banned From Oakmont Country Club After Damaging Property
Buzz Feed
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
15 Books That Made People Love Reading Again
Reading slumps are bound to happen to all bookworms, but it only takes one reaaaally good book to get out of one. Recently, I asked BuzzFeed Community members to share the book that got them out of a deep reading rut, and I'm about ready to head to the bookstore ASAP. Here are some book recs that made people fall in love with reading again: "Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. It's a quirky book about an octopus who helps an aquarium employee get through her grief. I know it sounds bizarre, but trust me. I couldn't put it down." —Anonymous, 33Here's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late. "The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. I started reading it after the first movie because I loved the movie so much and didn't want to wait a year to find out what happened, so I decided to read the books. Twenty-five years later, I have bookshelves of books. LOTR instilled a love of fantasy novels, and I still mostly only read fantasy." —flyerboy6Here's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Sauron's fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor, his power spread far and wide. Sauron gathered all the Great Rings to him, but always he searched for the One Ring that would complete his Bilbo reached his eleventy-first birthday he disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin Frodo the Ruling Ring and a perilous quest: to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord, and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Lord of the Rings tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring "Back to the classics: I recently read The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. What a read! It's a template for modern spy thrillers and gothic romance. There's not a wasted word in all of the 1,200 or more pages." —i_before_a_except_after_jHere's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:Thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, Edmond Dantes is confined to the grim fortress of If. There he learns of a great hoard of treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo and becomes determined not only to escape but to unearth the treasure and use it to plot the destruction of the three men responsible for his incarceration. A huge popular success when it was first serialized in the 1840s, Dumas was inspired by a real-life case of wrongful imprisonment when writing his epic tale of suffering and retribution. "Anything by Kristin Hannah. I was first introduced to her when I read The Nightingale, and since then, I have been hooked. The characters feel so real, and the storytelling is like no other. Highly recommend." —AnonymousHere's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn't believe that the Nazis will invade France…but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When a German captain requisitions Vianne's home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can…completely. But when he betrays her, Isabelle joins the Resistance and never looks back, risking her life time and again to save others. "Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali. It's a very sweet love story featuring a well-done Muslim representation! I was sad to finish it (and disappointed that the sequel wasn't as great, in my honest opinion), but it made me start reading more often to try to find a book as good as that one!" —AnonymousHere's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:Zayneb's teacher won't stop reminding the class how "bad" Muslims are. But Zayneb, the only Muslim in class, isn't bad. She's angry. When she gets suspended for confronting her teacher, and he begins investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her aunt's house in Doha, Qatar, for an early start to spring by the guilt of getting her friends in trouble, she resolves to try out a newer, "nicer" version of herself in a place where no one knows her. Then her path crosses with Adam' he got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November, Adam has stopped going to classes, intent instead on perfecting the making of things. Intent on keeping the memory of his mom alive for his little sister. And intent on keeping his diagnosis a secret from his grieving Adam and Zayneb are playing roles for others, keeping their real thoughts locked away in their journals. Until a marvel and an oddity occur. Adam and Zayneb meeting. "I'd recommend The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I needed a break from the serious stuff I've been reading. It's definitely not light and fluffy, but it was great at capturing the audience, making me care about the story and characters, and making me want to seek out the source material." —charmingvolcano268Here's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:Carlota Moreau: a young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of either a genius, or a Laughton: a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful hybrids: the fruits of the Doctor's labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal of them living in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau's patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite. "I listened to the audiobook of They Called Me a Lioness by Ahed Tamimi to better understand the situation in Gaza. I've never been much of a reader, but audiobooks make it easier for me. Since then, I've listened to several other nonfiction books." —Alexander, 27Here's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:A Palestinian activist jailed at sixteen after a confrontation with Israeli soldiers illuminates the daily struggles of life under occupation in this moving, deeply personal this is not just a story of activism or imprisonment. It is the human-scale story of an occupation that has riveted the world and shaped global politics, from a girl who grew up in the middle of it. Tamimi's father was born in 1967, the year that Israel began its occupation of the West Bank ,and he grew up immersed in the resistance movement. One of Tamimi's earliest memories is visiting him in prison, poking her toddler fingers through the fence to touch his hand. She herself would spend her seventeenth birthday behind bars. Living through this greatest test and heightened attacks on her village, Tamimi felt her resolve only deepen, in tension with her attempts to live the normal life of a daughter, sibling, friend, and student. "The Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter. The show was great, and despite having major differences, the books are astounding. Triptch (the first book) has several twists and even lets you 'solve' them. It also provides insight into poverty, the prison cycle, abuse of power, and more." —nouseforausernameHere's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:In the city of Atlanta, women are dying — at the hands of a killer who signs his work with a single, chilling act of mutilation. Leaving behind enough evidence to fuel a frenzied police hunt, this cunning madman is bringing together dozens of lives, crossing the boundaries of wealth and race. And the people who are chasing him must cross those boundaries too. Among them is Michael Ormewood, a veteran detective whose marriage is hanging by a thread—and whose arrogance and explosive temper are threatening his career. And Angie Polaski, a beautiful vice cop who was once Michael's lover before she became his another player has entered the game: a loser ex-con who has stumbled upon the killer's trail in the most coincidental of ways—someone who may be the key to breaking the case wide open. "Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is the BEST fantasy series ever. The way the series develops book by book is wild. I cried three times while reading the last book because I was so invested in the storyline and characters. I can't recommend it enough. You have to read all eight books, and though they are long, they are so worth it." —pastelmoon72Here's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass — and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world. "A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole is like nothing else. I don't laugh easily, but that book can wake me from a deep sleep and have me guffawing by just remembering a line. It's easy to write it off as just being funny, but the book is also incredibly sad because of what it obviously says about the author's feelings toward himself. It was the first novel I'd read voluntarily as an adult, and now, I'm never not reading. However, no other book has compared to the escapism and magic I felt with this one." —protrout978Here's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:A monument to sloth, rant, and contempt, a behemoth of fat, flatulence, and furious suspicion of anything modern - this is Ignatius J. Reilly of New Orleans, noble crusader against a world of dunces. The ordinary folk of New Orleans seem to think he is unhinged. Ignatius ignores them, heaving his vast bulk through the city's fleshpots in a noble crusade against vice, modernity, and ignorance. But his momma has a nasty surprise in store for him: Ignatius must get a job. Undaunted, he uses his newfound employment to further his mission - and now he has a pirate costume and a hot-dog cart to do it with. "While I would recommend anything by Hugh Howey, the Silo series is incredible. I enjoyed it so much that I can't bring myself to watch the TV show for fear that it would ruin the experience." —Steve, 55Here's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:This is the story of mankind clawing for survival, of mankind on the edge. The world outside has grown unkind, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. But there are always those who hope, who dream. These are the dangerous people, the residents who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple. They are given the very thing they profess to want: They are allowed outside. "One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King duology) by Rachel Gillig! I had been chugging through my never-ending TBR of romantasy and thriller books and felt like I was hitting a rut. I just wanted something a little different. I heard about the duology from Facebook and immediately downloaded it. I FLEW through them both." —Erin, 39, VirginiaHere's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder — she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her nothing comes for free, especially Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King's nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high they must gather twelve Providence Cards — the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him. "As someone who mainly reads non-fiction, I once found myself in a reading slump and couldn't get out. I have a friend who likes to read rom-coms, and she recommended me Beach Read by Emily Henry. I was surprised by how much I loved it! I never looked down at rom-coms, don't get me wrong, but I definitely never thought to give them a shot. Now, I like incorporating them into my reading rotation." —Henry, 25Here's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire polar fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no-one will fall in love. Really. "The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Very BookTok-ish, I know, but I ADORE that book. It's written so beautifully, and it makes me sob uncontrollably every single time I read the ending. It's one of my favorite books, and one I recommend to everyone, whether they're bookworms or not." —AnonymousHere's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice. Lastly: "Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins! I honestly think it's one of the best books I've read so far this year. You can tell that Suzanne isn't in it for the money grab. It's a painful story that speaks so much about the world today." —Emily, New JerseyHere's a quick synopsis from Goodreads:As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena. I'm adding alllll of these to my TBR as we speak! What's a book that has gotten you out of a deep reading slump? Let us know in the comments, or you can anonymously submit your response using the form below!
Business Insider
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'The Lord of the Rings'
The first installment of the beloved "Lord of the Rings" trilogy came out in 2001. Several stars like Ian McKellen and Orlando Bloom reprised their roles in the "Hobbit" films. Sean Bean and Karl Urban have gone on to play iconic TV characters. Believe it or not, it's been over two decades since the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy wrapped in 2003. The film franchise, based on the J. R. R. Tolkien novel of the same name, received critical acclaim — and also launched several actors' careers. Since leaving Middle Earth, many of the franchise's stars have gone on to play other iconic roles. Here's a look at what the star-studded cast is up to today. Elijah Wood played Frodo Baggins. Wood played a hobbit named Frodo in the "Lord of the Rings" films. After inheriting the One Ring from his cousin Bilbo Baggins, Frodo bravely volunteers to take it to Mordor to be destroyed, kicking off the epic journey across Middle Earth. Wood began acting at a young age and had several major film credits before "The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001), like "Flipper" (1996) and "Avalon" (1990). Wood has since acted across a variety of genres. Wood has stayed busy with movies of all genres, including the action-comedy "Spy Kids 3D: Game Over" (2003), romantic drama "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004), animated musical "Happy Feet" (2006), and psychological slasher "Maniac" (2012). In 2010, Wood cofounded the production company SpectreVision, formerly known as The Woodshed, and has gone on to produce films like "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night" (2014), "Mandy" (2018), and "Color Out of Space" (2019). In addition to his other career as a DJ, Wood still found time to work on projects like Cartoon Network's "Over the Garden Wall," "I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore" (2017), and "Come to Daddy" (2019). These days, you can catch him in the ensemble cast of Showtime's "Yellowjackets." Viggo Mortensen played Aragorn. The Danish-American actor Mortensen played Aragorn — the son of Arathorn, heir of Isildur, and eventual King of Gondor. Aragorn is a member of the Fellowship and leads the fight against Sauron's army while the One Ring is being destroyed. Before joining the "Lord of the Rings" cast, Mortensen had worked with directors like Peter Weir, Brian De Palma, Tony Scott, Ridley Scott, and Jane Campion. Fans would likely recognize him from films like "Young Guns II" (1990), "Crimson Tide" (1995), "The Portrait of a Lady" (1996), and "G.I. Jane" (1997). Mortensen has been nominated for several Academy Awards. Mortensen has since been nominated for best actor at the Academy Awards three times, for "Eastern Promises" (2007), "Captain Fantastic" (2016), and "Green Book" (2018), and has received numerous other honors. He made his feature directorial debut with the 2020 drama "Falling," which he also wrote, coproduced, and starred in opposite Lance Henriksen. Sean Bean played Boromir. Bean played Boromir, the son of Denethor and a member of the Fellowship. Boromir primarily appears in the first movie, as he dies defending Merry and Pippin against a horde of orcs after briefly allowing himself to be tempted by the One Ring. Bean was previously known for his roles in action thrillers like "Patriot Games" (1992), "GoldenEye" (1995), and "Ronin" (1998). Bean played another beloved fantasy character on "Game of Thrones." After meeting his character's demise in "The Fellowship of the Ring," Bean appeared in "Equilibrium" (2002), portrayed Odysseus in "Troy" (2004), and chased Nicolas Cage in "National Treasure" (2004). He went on to famously play Ned Stark on HBO's "Game of Thrones." More recently, he played Mr. Wilford on TNT's "Snowpiercer," John Parse in Brandon Cronenberg's 2020 sci-fi thriller "Possessor," and Ian on the BBC drama "Marriage." Dominic Monaghan played Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck. Monaghan played the troublesome hobbit Merry in the "Lord of the Rings" films. Merry is a hobbit from Frodo's village who finds himself leaving the Shire and joining Frodo's dangerous adventure. He had acted in several TV movies, but "The Fellowship of the Ring" was Monaghan's big-screen debut. Monaghan had a major role on "Lost." After concluding the film trilogy, Monaghan landed the role of Charlie Pace on ABC's "Lost" and appeared on the series until 2010. After that, he hosted and produced the BBC wildlife docuseries "Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan" from 2012 to 2016. He also starred in the video short for Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie," played a mutant in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" (2009), and joined another major franchise when he appeared in "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (2019). He voiced Archibald Desnay on Amazon Prime's 2022 animated adaptation of "Critical Role," "The Legend of Vox Machina." Most recently, he voiced an Orc in the animated "Lord of the Rings" prequel "The War of the Rohirrim" (2024). Sean Astin played Samwise Gamgee. Astin portrayed the loyal hobbit Samwise, Frodo's best friend. Save for a few brief separations, Sam is always by Frodo's side and risks his life many times to save his friends. Astin had several notable credits before the fantasy franchise, famous for roles in films like "The Goonies" (1985) and "Rudy" (1993). Astin has worked on several major TV shows. Astin has since done a lot of voice-over work for animated films and video games, even providing the voice for Raphael on Nickelodeon's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." In 2017, he joined the second season of Netflix's "Stranger Things" as Joyce's love interest, Bob Newby. He has several projects in the works, and he also recently played a recurring role on the sitcom "The Conners." Ian McKellen played Gandalf. If not for McKellen's character, the Fellowship would never have formed and likely would not have survived. McKellen mainly began his professional acting career on the stage in the early 1960s. A year before the fantasy trilogy debuted, he joined the Marvel universe as Magneto in the "X-Men" franchise. McKellen also appeared in the "Hobbit" films. McKellen continued playing Magneto during and after the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, most recently in "X-Men: Days of Future Past" (2014). The actor is one of the few "Lord of the Rings" cast members to also appear in the "Hobbit" films, reprising his role as the powerful wizard. Some of McKellen's more recent turns include Cogsworth in the live-action "Beauty and the Beast" (2017) and Gus the Theatre Cat in "Cats" (2019). He also has several recent theater credits in the UK, including "Hamlet" and "The Cherry Orchard." John Rhys-Davies played Gimli. The Welsh actor Rhys-Davies portrayed the dwarf warrior Gimli. Gimli is the representative for the dwarfs in the Fellowship and the son of Glóin, one of Bilbo's companions during the events of "The Hobbit." Rhys-Davies, who also provided the voice of Treebeard in the films, previously played Sallah in several "Indiana Jones" films and Vasco Rodrigues on NBC's miniseries "Shogun," for which he received an Emmy nomination. Rhys-Davies has continued working on fantasy projects. After "The Lord of the Rings," he appeared in a number of notable TV movies and on shows like Comedy Central's "TripTank." There are a few other fantasy projects on his recent résumé, including ABC's "Once Upon a Time" and MTV's "The Shannara Chronicles." Rhys-Davies has also lent his voice to video games and animated projects like Guillermo del Toro's Netflix miniseries "Wizards" and the 2019 feature "Mosley." Most recently, he voiced a character in"Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" (2023). Orlando Bloom played Legolas. Bloom played the master archer and wood elf Legolas. The arrow-wielding hero is also a member of the Fellowship and eventually becomes Gimli's best friend, even though dwarfs and elves historically hated each other. Bloom was relatively unknown when he was cast in the trilogy, but between the first and second films, he appeared in "Black Hawk Down" (2002). Bloom has played other action-packed roles. Bloom famously played Will Turner in four of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" installments. Alongside McKellen, he also revisited the role of Legolas in the "Hobbit" films. In addition to other hit projects like "Troy" (2004) and "The Three Musketeers" (2011), the actor starred on the Amazon series "Carnival Row" as Rycroft Philostrate. More recently, he starred in the action film "Red Right Hand" (2024). Billy Boyd played Peregrin "Pippin" Took. Boyd played Pippin, the immature best friend of Merry, and appeared in all three "Lord of the Rings" films. As a part of the Fellowship, his antics cause trouble for the group, but he always means well. Boyd had primarily worked on television before he was cast in the first film of the trilogy and continued to do so in between the franchise's sequels. Boyd continues making music and acting. Boyd appeared in "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" alongside Russell Crowe in 2003, the same year as "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." The next year, he provided the voice of Glen and Glenda for the horror film "Seed of Chucky" (2004). Boyd is also a musician and got to write and perform a song for "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" (2014). He was seen on episodes of FX's "Snowfall," ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," and Starz's "Outlander." He also appeared in the 2021 thriller "An Intrusion." More recently, he voiced a character in the anime "Lord of the Rings" prequel, "The War of the Rohirrim." Ian Holm played Bilbo Baggins. The English actor Holm played Bilbo Baggins, the previous ring bearer. Bilbo is Frodo's guardian and cousin, and he is unnaturally old because of the effects of the One Ring. Even before the film franchise, Holm was a Tony Award-winning actor, probably best known to fantasy and sci-fi fans for playing Ash in the Ridley Scott film "Alien" (1979). Holm has starred in a variety of films. After the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Holm worked on an impressive array of films like "Garden State" (2004), "Lord of War" (2005), and "Ratatouille" (2007). In 2020, Holm died at age 88 of complications related to Parkinson's disease. Liv Tyler played Arwen Undómiel. Tyler brought Arwen, daughter of Lord Elrond, to life on the big screen. The elf saves Frodo from the Black Riders and later marries Aragorn. Before "The Fellowship of the Ring," Tyler had been in plenty of films, including "Stealing Beauty" (1996) and "Armageddon" (1998). Tyler has since been on several hit shows. Tyler joined another major franchise in 2008 as Betty Ross in Marvel's "The Incredible Hulk." In 2025, she reprised the role in "Captain America: Brave New World." Elsewhere, Tyler played Meg Abbott on HBO's "The Leftovers," Lady Isabella Fitzwilliam on ITV-Hulu's "Harlots," Eve in the sci-fi thriller "Ad Astra" (2019), and Michelle Blake on Fox's "9-1-1: Lone Star." Hugo Weaving played Lord Elrond. Elrond, played by Weaving, is the Lord of Rivendell. The elf was there when Isildur claimed the One Ring and tried to get him to destroy it, to no avail. Fans would likely recognize Weaving as Agent Smith in "The Matrix" films, a franchise that mostly ran at the same time as the "Lord of the Rings" movies. Weaving continues to act in blockbuster hits. Weaving went on to play V in "V for Vendetta" (2006), voice Megatron in Michael Bay's "Transformers" films, and portray the Red Skull in "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011). Weaving starred in the drama "Lone Wolf" and appeared on the Binge miniseries "Love Me" in 2021. Most recently, he played the villainous Frank Harness in the thriller series "Slow Horses." Cate Blanchett played Galadriel. Blanchett portrayed Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood and grandmother to Arwen. In "The Fellowship of the Ring," she gives each traveler a special gift, including the "star-glass" that later proves useful against the giant spider. Blanchett didn't get a ton of screen time in the films — only a minute and 23 seconds, according to Screen Rant. She had appeared in several movies before "The Lord of the Rings," like "Elizabeth" (1998) and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999). Blanchett is now an Academy Award-winning actor. Immediately after "The Lord of the Rings," Blanchett appeared in "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004) and "The Aviator" (2004), which earned her an Oscar win. She racked up more nominations for "Notes on a Scandal" (2006), "I'm Not There" (2007), and "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (2007) before winning another Oscar for "Blue Jasmine" (2013). Blanchett was nominated yet again for her work in "Carol" (2016) and played the activist Phyllis Schlafly in the FX miniseries "Mrs. America." More recently, she starred in "Don't Look Up" (2021), "Tár" (2022), "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" (2022), and the TV series "Disclaimer" (2024). Andy Serkis played Gollum. Serkis' portrayal of Gollum was an impressive feat of motion-capture technology. Throughout the films, Gollum, originally known as Sméagol, is painted as an antagonist and a representation of the One Ring's consequences. Before his performance in the trilogy, Serkis had been in several shows and films, like "Career Girls (1997)" and "Among Giants" (1998). Serkis has appeared in other major film franchises. Serkis reprised Gollum in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012) and did groundbreaking performance-capture work for the "Planet of the Apes" films. He then joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the flesh as Ulysses Klaue, provided the voice of Baloo in "Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle" (2018), and was Snoke in the recent "Star Wars" trilogy. Recently, Serkis played Alfred Pennyworth in "The Batman" alongside Robert Pattinson and Kino Loy on the Disney+ series "Andor." Christopher Lee played Saruman. A film legend, Lee took a notable turn as the wizard Saruman the White, who was introduced as a respectable ally but turned out to be a power-hungry pawn of Sauron. Before his role in the fantasy films, he starred in many movies like "Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace" (1962) and "Count Dracula" (1977). Lee acted in several other notable films. After the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Lee appeared in several films and shorts, like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005) and "Hugo" (2011), before reprising his role as Saruman in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." In 2015, Lee died at age 93 after being hospitalized for heart failure and respiratory problems. Miranda Otto played Éowyn. Otto played arguably one of the most important characters in the trilogy, Éowyn. Disguised as a Rider of Rohan, Éowyn, shield maiden of Rohan and daughter of Éomund, ultimately kills the Witch-king of Angmar during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Before her turn in the "Lord of the Rings" films, Otto appeared in movies like "The Well" (1998) and "The Thin Red Line" (1998). Otto has acted on several series. Shortly after the Middle Earth films, Otto appeared on-screen again in the 2005 adaptation of "War of the Worlds." She has since worked on films like "Annabelle: Creation" (2017) and miniseries like USA's "The Starter Wife," ABC's "Cashmere Mafia," and Fox's "24: Legacy." In 2018, she showed off her fantasy roots on the Netflix series "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" as aunt Zelda Spellman. Otto recently appeared on several TV miniseries, like SBS' "The Unusual Suspects." In 2024, she reprised her role of Éowyn in the "Lord of the Rings" prequel anime film, "The War of the Rohirrim." John Noble played Denethor II. Noble made playing a troublesome ruler look fun. The last viewers saw of Denethor, he was falling off a cliff on fire after he had tried burning his son alive. Before the fantasy franchise, the actor had been on TV series and in films like "The Monkey's Mask" (2001). Noble has since worked on several hit TV shows. Noble is probably best known for playing Walter Bishop on the Fox series "Fringe." Like his "Lord of the Rings" costars Blanchett and Weaving, Noble also appeared as a guest on the ABC series "Rake" before signing longer stints on shows like Fox's "Sleepy Hollow," The CW's "DC's Legends of Tomorrow," and CBS' "Elementary." He also showed up as Billy Butcher's father on an episode of Amazon Prime's "The Boys." More recently, he worked on Netflix's "Cowboy Bebop," Paramount+'s "Star Trek: Prodigy," and Apple TV+'s "Severance." Karl Urban played Éomer. Urban played Éomer, the leader of the Riders of Rohan who later becomes King of the Mark. Before the trilogy, he played Julius Caesar on Syfy's "Xena: Warrior Princess" and appeared in several films. Urban continues to make a name for himself as an action star. Urban became an action-movie star shortly after "The Return of the King" with "The Chronicles of Riddick" (2004), followed by "The Bourne Supremacy" (2004) and "Doom" (2005). He later played Leonard "Bones" McCoy in "Star Trek" (2009) and continued his action-star legacy as the titular judge in "Dredd" (2012). Urban plays Billy on "The Boys" — making Noble's guest appearance a "Lord of the Rings" reunion.
