Key Takeaways:
– Hollywood actor Karl Urban detailed his prank revenge on his “The Lord of the Rings” co-star Viggo Mortensen.
– Mortensen initially pranked Urban during their filming, leading Urban to plan for a decade long counter-prank.
– Urban finally had his revenge during a joint promotional visit to Spain, where he convinced the press that Mortensen had taken up goat cheese farming.
Hearty laughter, cheers, and sheer camaraderie were the unseen characters on the set of Peter Jackson's immensely popular saga “The Lord of the Rings.” It included a fun-filled rivalry between co-stars Karl Urban and Viggo Mortensen that revolved around playful pranks. For a decade, Urban patiently waited for the perfect opportunity to enact his revenge prank on prankster Mortensen.
The Actors' Jolly Prank Wars on Set
Good-natured joking was common aboard the set of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Urban, who portrayed Éomer in the saga, has fond memories of the prank rivalry he shared with Mortensen, who played the famed Aragorn. Speaking at Fan Expo 2019, Urban confessed his fondness for long-term, elaborate pranks, like the one he experienced from Mortensen during the filming of their trilogy.
In the dead of night, Mortensen impersonated Urban and woke both the actor and his agent with a frantic phone call. Mortensen, in his best Urban impersonation, convinced the agent that the newly minted Éomer wouldn't fly without his lucky, red socks. The prank jarred Urban and his agent, serving as the catalyst for Urban's waiting game for revenge.
Urban's Long-Awaited Revenge
Fast-forward a decade, and the waiting games were at an end. Upon a promotional trip to Spain, both Urban and Mortensen had separate interviews with the same press team. After his press conference, Urban set the stage for his revenge.
Urban convinced the reporters that Mortensen, who was due to speak with them the following day, had invested in a farm and a thousand goats. The made-up story suggested that Mortensen had discovered a new passion for goat cheese making.
Outcome of Urban's Prank
Urban's elaborate scheme worked like magic. The day after the prank, press outlets were eager to know about Mortensen's imaginary goat cheese business, showing less interest in his promotional materials. Urban's lengthy gambit had turned into a national news story and the mother of all clapbacks to Mortensen's sock's prank.
Playing pranks have always been a means for castmates to bond and blow off steam on intense movie sets. Urban and Mortensen's pranks are one such classic example of the fraternal bonds formed on movie sets. From the sound of it, this episode might be the climax of Urban's prank plot, but who knows what tricks are yet up his sleeves for the future.
For fans wanting to watch Urban and Mortensen's on-screen camaraderie, “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy is available to stream on various platforms. The prank adventures of the actors serve as fun behind-the-scenes trivia for avid fans of the series.
