Azog the Defiler: the perfect villain of Peter Jackson

The screen version of the children's fairy tale "The Hobbit" gave astonished fans a lot of amazing discoveries: from new characters, which were not even a hint in the book, to the author's rethinking of events. Perhaps, one of the main shocks was Azog the Defiler, the main antagonist of Torin Duboshchit. He immediately formed a circle of fans who sincerely grieved at the end of the trilogy about the demise of the charismatic orc. How did Azog come into being and why was he so charming?

Pale orc from Mount Gundabad

At all times, the viewers enjoyed the characters, who had a bright personality and stood out from the crowd. Azog the Defiler favorably differs from a whole string of inexpressive film-villains, if only by the fact that his deeds achieve the goal in most cases, bring the main enemy unbearable pain and sorrow of loss. He does not look like a gangster-loser, on which hones the charm of a crystal-positive protagonist. Azog stands out both in terms and character. He is the only one sitting on a white varg, has his own history and understandable motives for action.

Peter Jackson: godfather of Azog the Defiler

It should be noted that the creator of kinotrilogii, Peter Jackson, until the last moment did not know exactly what Azog the Defiler would look like. The concept of appearance was not suitable for such a hero, and it was necessary to develop a new one from scratch. However, the viewer can see what this hero could become - his appearance went to Bolgu, the son of Azog. The creators of the film abandoned the idea of a plastic makeup, and the image of Azoga formed over the capture of the movements of the actor.

It's funny that together with his appearance, Bolg inherited the artist, who was originally approved for the role of Azoga. Instead of him, Manu Bennett was invited. The films in which Bennett was shot became popular shortly before the work on the Jackson trilogy began. Perhaps, it was the series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand", where he appeared in the role of Crixus, brought the actor fame, he was recognized on the streets. Before that, Bennett was filming episodes, but his characters were recognizable. This is Mark Antony in the series "Xena, the Warrior Princess", and Paco in "The Sentenced." For trials in the film trilogy "The Hobbit" Manu Bennet was invited just on the wave of popularity of the series "Spartacus." He auditioned for the role of Azoga, but luck smiled to another actor. And yet, in the end, the role found its performer.

Peter Jackson was free to deal with the source, and this was repeatedly reproached him. According to the book, Azog died in battle long before the events described in the fairy tale about the hobbit, although it was he who chopped off the head of Thor, the grandfather of Thorin. Jackson developed and supplemented the image of Azoga, gave him a long life, a motive for revenge, extraordinary talents of a strategist and commander. From a brief mention in the children's book developed a bright and charismatic character.

Manu Bennett about working on the image of Azoga

It is possible that the actor who played Azoga the Defiler, influenced the character more than it seems at first glance. The fact is that in the veins of Bennett there flows also the blood of Maori, the indigenous population of New Zealand. In the behavior of Azoga sometimes skip authentic martial postures and facial expressions. Suspiciously symmetrical orc scars surprisingly resonate with ritual scarification of Maori, which only looks like a tattoo.

Azog the Defiler became for Bennett an interesting experience of reincarnation. Not every actor organically plays in the process of intercepting movements. When the first part was filmed, Manu Bennett never met Richard Armitage, who played Torin, despite the footage of the armed confrontation. They met only before the premiere.

According to the actor's recognition, this is a completely new approach to the art of reincarnation. However, he managed to convincingly play, even taking into account the lack of a partner in the scene and riding a dummy varg.

Unexpected success of the Pale Orc

In comparison with the average orcs, Azog looks even aristocratic. He is beautiful in his own way. A low velvety voice, into which the sound engineers wove notes of the growling leopard, causes goose bumps in the eyes of impressionable spectators. After Manu Bennett mentioned that he gave his white vargue the nickname Daisy (daisy), the Internet was swept by a wave of fan-creativity. Fans painted a story about how the white varg and Asog the Defiler began their strange friendship. The actor told me that on the set they even came up with an inscription on a vest: "Varg is the best friend of the orc".

The spectators' fantasy finished what Peter Jackson began to shine with and brilliantly embodied Manu Bennett. The image of Azoga played with all colors, he attracts viewers with his unadulterated masculinity, maniacal desire for revenge, multiplied by the talents of the commander. Perhaps, without the Pale Orc, the film would not be so fascinating.