Sean Astin, fellow Hobbitses to share 'Lord of the Rings' stories at Fan Expo Cleveland

In one regard, Sean Astin is the perfect individual to appear at the myriad of pop culture conventions that have grown in number over the past couple decades.

Most actors are fortunate to get a role in one iconic film. He has three across a 40-plus-year career that began with the help of his mother, Patty Duke, a legendary actress who won an Oscar and Emmy.

“Goonies” (1985) remains a cultural touchstone passed from generation to generation. “Rudy,” the story of a resilient Notre Dame football player from 1993, is a favorite among sports fans who point to its inspirational story.

And there is the one trilogy that some say rules them all – “The Lord of the Rings” films, which include “The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Two Towers” and “The Return of the King.” Those films have endured since director Peter Jackson revealed his vision of J.R.R. Tolkien’s literary masterpiece beginning in 2001.

Astin will reunite with castmates and fellow Hobbitses Elijah Wood (Frodo), Billy Boyd (Pippin) and Dominic Monaghan (Merry) from the films next weekend at Fan Expo Cleveland for its annual pop culture fest at the Huntington Convention Center.

Astin said he is aware of what all of his work on screen has provided.

“It feels good. My thoughts have changed over the years about it, but I suppose at this point of my life, it's just nice to be able to know that you've had a kind of relationship with different generations,” he said of the fame.

More: New 'Lord of the Rings' movies in the works at Warner Bros. Pictures, CEO says

While the focus of his appearance will be on the "LOTR" films, Astin was very much a seasoned acting veteran by the time those films came out. “Goonies” remains one of those films that have been passed on from generation to generation since its release nearly 40 years ago. Directed by Richard Donner and produced by Steven Spielberg, who had solidified his stature in Hollywood, it introduced Astin to the intense fandom a popular film can generate.

It prepared him for what “Lord of the Rings,” a property that had been in film development hell for years before Jackson brought his touch to it, would become to the pop culture world. It also prepared him for the additional meaning the films – and their stories of good versus evil – would take on at that moment in time.

A post-9/11 film release

Astin remembered the studio seeking input from the cast about the film’s marketing and promotion. “LOTR” had plenty of buzz, but by the time its release – in 2001 – descended upon the country, America was in a very different place. Sept. 11, 2001, ensured that.

New York City, a place I had visited for movie coverage on many occasions, felt subdued the December weekend of the “Rings” junket. Several months after a horrific terrorist attack, America and New York City in particular were still processing and trying to heal.

Astin recalled a studio marketing department that was leaning into the lighter elements of the story. The cast – in the midst of filming three epic films inside two years – was not feeling that vibe after 9/11, calling it “too light.”

“Then they adjusted it and they sort of got the vibe that we wanted it to have, which was a much more gravitas or something,” he said. ”And then you don't know if the audience is going to like that. You don't know if it's going to be too heavy-handed or if it's too long.”

If there were a film (or series) that benefited greatly from a specific moment or period in time, “The Lord of the Rings" trilogy – especially the first installment – was it.

Astin said the profound themes resonated with audiences.

“Lord of the Rings came along at a really important time because for most Americans, it was a real loss of innocence − for most of the world, really − that terrorism could touch so close to home and could affect so many people,” he said. “You always think of Pearl Harbor or you think of war in Europe or something like that. But this was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it was huge and it was on our shores.’ And then there's this movie that comes along and basically tries to unpack the ideas behind it, behind the political and the terrorist ethos, if you will.”

And the films connected for three consecutive years, culminating with the third installment, “The Return of the King,” snagging Academy Awards for best picture and best director for Jackson, along with a host of technical awards in 2004. Combined, the three films grossed close to $3 billion worldwide, and despite their collective length – something Astin jokes about – they are revered by fans.

A mutual respect

Astin has connected with convention audiences for years and enjoys seeing people he may have interacted with during the course of his appearances.

As a group, the actors who portray the Hobbitses have only been appearing together for a couple of years.

“We've lived these movies in public for 20 years, and so it's just a chance to kind of reconnect with that. And, also, we're professional performers, and we have stories to share,” Astin said, “and I think people, they seem to really enjoy it, and it's a mutual appreciation. We appreciate the audience that's there as much, if not more than they appreciate that we're there.

“People who always say, ‘Thanks so much for coming to Cleveland.’ And it's like, no, Cleveland, thank you for coming out to see us, and so it's symbiotic like that, and it's fun.”

George M. Thomas dabbles in film and television for the Beacon Journal.

Details

What: FanExpo Cleveland

When: April 12-14; 4-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Sunday

Where: Huntington Convention Center, 300 Lakeside Ave. E, Cleveland

More information: fanexpohq.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Sean Astin, Lord of the Rings hobbits to appear at Fan Expo Cleveland