Viggo Mortensen will not be reprising the role of Aragorn in Andy Serkis’ “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.” Serkis, who is directing the movie and returning in front of the camera as Gollum, confirmed in an interview with ScreenRant that Aragorn will be recast in the next Middle-earth film tentpole.
“I don’t know what’s out there at the moment, but I know there’s a lot of speculation, but let’s just say we are recasting the role and we are on the way to finding someone,” Serkis revealed.
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Other than Serkis’ return as Gollum, the only other actor announced to be joining “The Hunt for Gollum” is Kate Winslet. The Oscar winner’s casting was confirmed by Variety last month, although the specifics of her role remain under wraps. Warner Bros. hasn’t confirmed who else will appear in the upcoming film, but franchise veterans Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen are rumored to be returning as Frodo Baggins and Gandalf, respectively.
“We’ve got to keep it all back,” Serkis told ScreenRant about not revealing additional information about his movie. “I mean, look, other than, I think it’s probably common knowledge, but our film takes place between ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ and it’s ‘The Hunt for Gollum,’ and it is a physical hunt for the character, but also a psychological hunt for himself. So we’re just about on the launchpad now, and it’s very exciting. And yeah, it’s going to be a big ride.”
Peter Jackson, who directed “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” film trilogies, is producing “The Hunt for Gollum” with his creative partners and franchise mainstays Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Wood recently appeared on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast and said the prospect of finding a new Aragorn actor is “gonna be tough” because “those are tough boots [to fill].” Wood told The Sunday Times he would not want to be recast as Frodo.
“I certainly wouldn’t want anybody else to play Frodo as long as I’m alive and able,” Wood said. “It’s always a little nerve-racking when people talk about new movies for a world like Middle-earth. Everyone gets a little protective and hopes it retains its level of integrity, but this story is fun, thrilling. There is a genuine feeling of getting the band back together.”
“I can also recognize what fun that is going to be — when you are in the cinema, and you see the hat turn around, and it’s Gandalf,” Wood added. “Because I’m also a fan, and excited to see how it all comes together.”
Warner Bros. and New Line are currently developing two “Lord of the Rings” movies. “The Hunt for Gollum” is gearing up to film this year, while Stephen Colbert is currently co-writing another “Rings” movie with his son, Peter McGee, and Philippa Boyens.
“The Hunt for Gollum” is slated to release in theaters on Dec. 17, 2027.
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