Andy Serkis has provided further insight into the character of Aragorn in the upcoming Lord of the Rings film, The Hunt for Gollum. Last month, it was announced that Irish actor Jamie Dornan would portray Aragorn, a role originally played by Viggo Mortensen in Peter Jackson's trilogy. However, the character was listed as 'Strider' in initial credits, causing confusion among fans.
Why the Name Change?
In a recent interview with Den of Geek, Serkis, who both stars as Gollum and directs the film, clarified the reasoning. 'That's where he is at this particular part of the journey,' Serkis explained. 'He wouldn't think of himself as Aragorn, son of Arathorn, at this point. He's living in the wilderness. He's a doomed lone ranger.'
Viggo Mortensen's Blessing
Fans had hoped Mortensen, 67, would reprise the role, especially after he expressed openness in 2024. 'I like playing that character. I learned a lot playing the character. I would only do it if I was right for it in terms of, you know, the age I am now and so forth,' Mortensen told British GQ. Despite disappointment over his absence, Serkis revealed Mortensen supported the recasting. 'We are thrilled that Jamie's doing it. And, by the way, so is Viggo,' Serkis said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.
Produced by Peter Jackson, The Hunt for Gollum is set between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. The story follows Aragorn (Strider) as he tracks Gollum to prevent the creature from revealing the One Ring's location to Sauron. Serkis will once again portray Gollum using motion capture technology. The film is scheduled for release in December 2027.
