Hollywood’s #MeToo Scandal: How Harvey Weinstein’s Misconduct Nearly Ruined a $5.8 Billion ‘Lord of the Rings’ Franchise

Harvey Weinstein Almost Ended $5.8 Billion ‘Lord of the Rings’ Franchise With His Stubbornness

By Sharanya Sankar | June 15, 2023, 12:21 PM

In 2017, Hollywood was rocked with the shocking sexual abuse scandal of Harvey Weinstein. The producer, who was responsible for bringing many stars to the fore, was charged and arrested for assaulting and raping dozens of women and aspiring actresses over a period of 30 years. With each allegation, a new shocking revelation emerged from the Hollywood camp, which involved many A-listers talking about their traumatic relationship with the producer.

Disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein

But Weinstein’s despicable behavior was not restricted to sexual abuse alone. The now disgraced producer was instrumental in almost ruining the future of many massive films by prominent directors. Oscar winner Peter Jackson and his blockbuster Lord of the Rings trilogy were caught in Weinstein’s domineering web.

Harvey Weinstein Almost Ruined Lord Of The Rings

Peter Jackson’s massive blockbuster trilogy Lord Of the Rings, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, became one of Hollywood’s biggest film franchises, making a total of almost $6 billion worldwide. The three films were shot one after another and almost did not see the light of day due to Weinstein’s initial involvement.

Jackson and partner Fran Walsh initially approached Miramax Studios and Harvey Weinstein as early as 1996 to bankroll the film with the condition that it must be shot as a continuous trilogy. Weinstein and the studio did not want to take the risk of financing three films and convinced Jackson to reduce his budget into a two-film format.

Peter Jackson on the sets of Lord of the Rings

While the King Kong director conceded to the request, he also gave Weinstein a budget of $140 million for the production of the two movies, which was taken as confirmed. But the producer unexpectedly went back on his word and laid down a shocking condition that he would only part with $75 million if Jackson agreed to making just one part of the narrative. This was when the Oscar-winning director put his foot down and pulled out of the problematic partnership saying, “We didn’t really feel comfortable with that. At all, in fact. We thought it was a recipe for disaster.”

Jackson’s gut instinct about Weinstein and the films proved to be spot on, with the Lord of the Rings trilogy becoming an iconic success in the box office as well as with audiences worldwide.

Charlize Theron Openly Accused Harvey Weinstein

The Harvey Weinstein scandal opened up a Pandora’s box of allegations from the heart of Hollywood. Many top stars in the industry came out with their shocking stories and experiences with the producer. Among the many A-list actors who were on the receiving end of Weinstein’s abuse, Charlize Theron spoke openly about his disturbing demeanor over the years.

Speaking of the manner in which he manipulated each actor against the other, Theron said, “One of his lines was that Renée [Zellweger] and I slept with him to get jobs. There was no limit to him. Pitting women against each other? He was really, really good at that. There was a lot of, like, ‘Well, I’m talking to Gwyneth [Paltrow] for this movie…’ Even in the sexual favors, he would still pit us against each other.” Theron firmly stated that she was never involved in giving any type of sexual favor to Weinstein to secure a role and claimed that the producer’s allegation was completely false. She also empathized with the many victims who were silenced and rendered helpless by Weinstein over three decades.

Oscar winner Charlize Theron

Conclusion

The Harvey Weinstein scandal serves as a prime example of the abuse of power and influence in the entertainment industry. Weinstein not only utilized his authority to sexually exploit aspiring actresses but also attempted to manipulate and control major film projects. His attempt to intervene in the Lord of the Rings trilogy could have potentially jeopardized the success and continuation of one of Hollywood‘s most beloved franchises.

However, the decisive actions taken by Peter Jackson and his refusal to compromise allowed the Lord of the Rings films to be made authentically and with the vision of the director intact. The success of the trilogy ultimately proved that artistic integrity and ethical conduct should always prevail over personal gain, even in the face of powerful individuals like Weinstein.

It is essential that the film industry and society as a whole continue to address the issue of s*xual misconduct and provide support and protection for victims. The #MeToo movement, sparked by the revelations surrounding Weinstein, has brought to light the pervasive nature of abuse in the entertainment industry and has led to significant changes in the way allegations are handled and perpetrators are held accountable.

Ultimately, the case of Harvey Weinstein serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ethical behavior and the need to create a safe and inclusive environment for all individuals, regardless of their position or status in society.