When Peter Jackson started the Lord of the Rings saga, he asked Sean Connery to play the wizard. Connery declined because the script did not speak to him. In a recent Empire interview, Jackson laughed about the idea of Connery’s Scottish accent echoing through Middle‑earth. Why Peter Jackson Said NoJackson explained that he could not picture Connery matching the dedication of Ian McKellen. Whether Connery ever imagined himself in the wizard’s robe, the story of the Gandalf casting choice remains a fascinating glimpse into film history.