<Li> Dominic Monaghan as Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck: a distant cousin of Frodo . Monaghan was cast as Merry after auditioning for Frodo . </Li> <Li> John Rhys - Davies as Gimli: a dwarf warrior who accompanies the Fellowship to Mordor after they set out from Rivendell and a descendant of Durin's Folk . Billy Connolly, who was considered for the part of Gimli, later portrayed Dáin II Ironfoot in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film trilogy . Rhys - Davies wore heavy prosthetics to play Gimli, which limited his vision, and eventually developed eczema around his eyes . </Li> <Li> Orlando Bloom as Legolas Greenleaf: a prince of the elves' Woodland Realm and a skilled archer . Bloom initially auditioned for Faramir, who appears in the second film, a role which went to David Wenham . </Li> <Li> Sean Bean as Boromir: a prince of the Stewards of Gondor who journeys with the Fellowship towards Mordor . Bruce Willis, a fan of the book, expressed interest in the role, while Liam Neeson was sent the script, but passed . </Li>

When did fellowship of the ring start filming