Figwit is a fan-created name for a then-unnamedElf Escort inPeter Jackson'sThe Lord of the Rings film series, played byBret McKenzie of the musical duoFlight of the Conchords. The name Figwit derives from an acronym for "Frodo is great...who is THAT?!?" [sic]. The character quickly and unexpectedly became popular amongTolkien fandom, and is perceived as an example offamous for being famous, a view shared by the character's actor himself.
Bret McKenzie, half of the musical comedy duoFlight of the Conchords, first landed a small role as anextra inThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.[1] He appears sitting next toAragorn during the council inRivendell scene. The elf was dubbed "Figwit" by fan Iris Hadad; after seeing Frodo agree to take the ring, saying "I will take it", the film switches to a shot where Figwit can be seen standing on the far right, and Hadad's initial reaction was "Frodo is great...who is THAT?!?"[2] Later, Hadad corresponded with her university friend Sherry de Andres, and the two created the first Figwit fan website, www.figwitlives.net, calling him "Legolas for the thinking woman".[3]
McKenzie appeared as Figwit again in the third film,The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, where he was credited as "Elf Escort". He appears in the scene whereArwen is leaving for theGrey Havens and has a vision of her future son, Eldarion, this time with two lines warning her to not delay and then exclaiming as she turns around. DirectorPeter Jackson stated in the DVD commentary forThe Return of the King that Figwit was called back and given dialogue in the third film "just for fun for the fans" because "so much fuss has been made about him over the last couple of years".[4]
McKenzie played another elf inThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Lindir, who has a brief appearance in the novelThe Fellowship of the Ring. McKenzie has stated that Lindir and Figwit are different characters.[5]
Though he only appeared for about three seconds inFellowship of the Ring, Figwit's popularity soon blossomed, with Hadad stating that "[the fan site] got a lot of e-mails from people who thought they were the only ones who had noticed that handsome, dark-haired elf".[6] Figwit's physical appearance and demeanor are the source of much of his popularity: he has been noted for his "lithe and graceful" movement,[7] "enigmatic broodiness", "haughty demeanor", and "pouty" looks.[3] His fan website proclaims him "in a word, gorgeous. Or another, stunning... hypnotic... stupendous... captivating... take your pick."[2][8]
McKenzie has stated that the Figwit obsession is "weird," though he is "flattered."[9] He has remarked that "it's so hilarious because it's been propelled by so little ... I'm famous for doing nothing."[7][10]
Figwit does not appear in Tolkien's writings and was created exclusively for the films; thus there is little authentic information regarding him, save that he is a royal escort. The only "official" place where the name Figwit is used is on severalTopps trading cards, including aThe Return of the King series card, titled "Return to Rivendell," and an Authentic Autographs card featuring the signature of actorBret McKenzie.[11] InThe Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game he was assigned the name ofAegnor, one ofGaladriel's brothers inThe Silmarillion. A Figwitaction figure was also created, though it was named "Elven Escort," as in the film.[12]
Figwit has been a subject of poetry, art, and fiction,[8] in particular in theslash genre ofTolkien fan fiction, where he is namedMelpomaen. This is a chimera translation of "figwit" from two of Tolkien'sElvish languages:melpo,Quenya for "fig",[13] andmaen,Noldorin for clever or skilled.[14]
In 2004, a 57-minutedocumentary on the Figwit phenomenon was created by McKenzie's fiancée (and now wife) Hannah Clarke[15] and friends Stan Alley and Nick Booth. EntitledFrodo Is Great... Who Is That?!!, it premiered at theAuckland International Film Festival on July 23.[16] Meant to "[unravel] Bret's identity",[16] it follows McKenzie to theEdinburgh Festival Fringe, where he meets the fans of his trademark pout and "elvish good looks", and features extensive interviews with fans behind various Figwit fan sites as well as withPeter Jackson,Barrie Osborne,Mark Ordesky,Ian McKellen, and other cast members.[7][17] Booth stated that their film was "much more irreverent and strange" compared to other behind-the-scenes documentaries of the film trilogy, which were "very much driven around the production and the cast and Tolkien".[16]
Middle-earth film franchise | |||||||||||
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| The Lord of the Rings film trilogy |
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| The Hobbit film trilogy |
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| Other films |
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| Video games | |||||||||||
