‘No’ to role as Gandalf cost Sir Sean Connery £300m

SIR SEAN Connery’s decision to turn down the now iconic role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings cost him £300 million, it was revealed today.

The films were considered a risky undertaking by Time Warner’s movie studio New Line Cinema.

The producers wanted to add some star value to the franchise by bringing in Connery for the role of Gandalf and they were willing to go the extra mile to convince the star.

In addition to a $10 million per film salary, they offered Connery 15 per cent of the box office for all three movies, but Connery declined to take the part because he “did not understand the script”.

Connery, who never revealed the money he was offered for the role, said, “I never understood it. I read the book. I read the script. I saw the movie. I still don’t understand it. Ian McKellen I believe is marvellous in it.”