Viggo Mortensen gave an incredible performance as Aragorn in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, but although the character has returned for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum…Mortensen isn’t playing him. Instead, Aragorn has been recast with Jamie Dornan taking on the role of the future King of Gondor. It can’t be easy to follow in the footsteps of Mortensen, and Dornan is feeling every bit of the pressure.
Jamie Dornan on Playing Aragorn
The story of The Hunt for Gollum takes place before and during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring, and although there had been talk of digital de-aging Mortensen, the role was ultimately recast.
“There’s pressure when you try to follow in those footsteps,” Dornan told L’Officiel Italia. “I’ve been asked to take on a super iconic role, and I’ll do my absolute best. But for me, Aragorn will always be Viggo, and only Viggo. His performance is one of my all-time favorites, and I feel honored to try and capture even a little bit of the energy he originally brought to the character.“
To hammer the point home, Dornan added, “There isn’t a single part of me that’s trying to do it better than he did.“
However, he does have at least one fan of his performance, as Leo Woodall, who plays fellow Dúnedain ranger Halvard, said, “I can honestly say that, for me, Aragorn is now Jamie Dornan.“
The Hunt for Gollum
Production on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum has been underway for several months, with a handful of set photos revealed several weeks ago, but shooting is finally nearing its end.
Andy Serkis, who also directs, has returned as Gollum/Smeagol, alongside Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, and Lee Pace as Thranduil. Anya Taylor-Joy has also joined the cast as Seren, a Sindar Elf of the Woodland Realm, and Kate Winslet will play Marigol, the matriarch of a settlement of Hobbit-like folk.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is currently slated for a December 17, 2027release. Another new movie, which sports the working title Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, is also in the works, with Steven Colbert writing the script.
