HAHA Reveals He Turned Down 'Lord of the Rings' Role for 'Running Man'

South Korean singer and entertainer HAHA (하하) recently made a surprising revelation on SBS’s variety show “Running Man.” He shared that he had previously received an offer to star in a major Hollywood film, “The Lord of the Rings.” Not only was he selected as one of the “Asian representatives,” but he had also completed character profile photos. However, due to a scheduling conflict with “Running Man,” he ultimately made the difficult decision to forgo the opportunity to enter Hollywood. The news sparked heated discussions online in Korea, with many netizens expressing regret.

The latest episode of SBS’s “Running Man,” which aired on the 23rd, featured a special “Go, Director Kang” competition dedicated to Kang Chan-hee (강찬희), the show’s director of photography who has been with the team since its first episode. At the start of the program, the production team unexpectedly revealed that HAHA had received a casting offer for a major Hollywood film, leaving all the cast members in disbelief.

Faced with everyone’s astonished reactions, HAHA hesitated, asking, “Can this really be revealed?” He then reluctantly disclosed that the project that had extended the offer was none other than the globally renowned film series, “The Lord of the Rings.”

Upon hearing the film’s title, Yoo Jae-suk (유재석) immediately quipped, “So, were you a hobbit?” HAHA didn’t deny it, revealing that he was indeed one of 12 hobbit actors considered and had received the offer as an “Asian representative.” Yoo Jae-suk seized the opportunity to tease him, saying, “HAHA’s feet are big, so he’s perfect for a hobbit. No special makeup would even be needed.” This sent the set into laughter.