Taking on the mantle of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is no small task. But incoming star Jamie Dornan is approaching the iconic role with deep respect for his predecessor, Viggo Mortensen.
In an interview with L’Officiel, Dornan spoke about the pressure of taking over such an iconic character. He also shared his admiration for Mortensen’s performance and explained why he sees the role as an honor rather than a competition.
The 44-year-old star said, “There’s pressure when you’re trying to follow in those footsteps. I’ve been asked to play a super-iconic role, and I’ll do my best. But for me, Aragorn will always be just Viggo. His performance is one of my all-time favorites, and I feel honored to try to recapture at least some of the energy he originally brought to the character. There’s no part of me that’s trying to outdo him.”
Dornan plans to bring his own take to Aragorn while respecting Mortensen’s memorable performance. The new film will explore the Ranger’s earlier adventures before the events of the original trilogy.
Who else is starring in the new Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum movie?
Andy Serkis will direct the film and reprise his role as Gollum. The cast also includes Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, and Lee Pace as Thranduil.
The expanding cast also welcomes newcomers Kate Winslet, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Leo Woodall. Woodall takes on the role of Halvard, a fellow Ranger who accompanies Dornan’s Strider on his perilous tracking missions. Voicing his support for his co-star, Woodall shared, “I can say that, now, my Aragorn is Jamie Dornan.”
The story takes place between Bilbo Baggins’ birthday celebration and Frodo’s departure from the Shire. Gandalf sends Aragorn to track down Gollum, hoping to protect the Shire and prevent Sauron from learning about the One Ring.
Peter Jackson returns as a producer alongside Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 17, 2027.