Viggo Mortensen Could Return As Aragorn In New “The Hunt for Gollum” Film

The beloved world of Middle-earth may soon welcome back familiar faces. New Line Cinema and the creative team behind The Lord of the Rings trilogy are working on a new live-action film, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. This prequel is set to explore the events just before Frodo embarks on his perilous journey in The Fellowship of the Ring, focusing on Aragorn’s mission to track down Gollum.

Andy Serkis, iconic for his motion-capture performance as Gollum, is confirmed to return and will also direct the movie. However, fans are buzzing about the potential return of Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn. Philippa Boyens, part of the original trilogy's creative core alongside Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, recently expressed her hopes for Mortensen’s involvement.

A Role Written for Viggo

In a conversation with The Playlist, Boyens revealed that discussions with Mortensen have already begun:

“Honestly, that’s entirely going to be up to Viggo… We’ve all spoken to each other, and I cannot imagine anyone else playing Aragorn. But it will be completely and entirely up to Viggo.”

The storyline will follow Aragorn on a mission assigned by Gandalf to capture Gollum before the creature can reveal critical information about the One Ring to Sauron. This task promises both emotional and physical challenges, allowing for a complex and layered performance.

No A.I. De-Aging

One significant question surrounding Mortensen’s potential return is how the film might address the actor’s older appearance, given the timeline. Boyens was clear that artificial intelligence wouldn’t play a role:

“We don’t see this as using A.I. [technology]. This is about digital makeup. Whether Viggo does it will entirely depend on how good the script is.”

A Collaborative Approach

Even if Mortensen declines to reprise his role, the filmmakers hope to involve him in passing the torch or shaping Aragorn’s portrayal:

“If he decides he doesn’t want to do it, we would still want him to be heavily involved… But literally, that decision is several months away.”

For now, the team is focused on delivering a compelling script that does justice to Mortensen’s talent and the legacy of Aragorn.

Release Date and Anticipation

With a target release year of 2026, The Hunt for Gollum is in its early stages. Fans eagerly await news, hoping for Mortensen's return to a role that remains legendary in cinematic history. Whether he reprises Aragorn or contributes in a different capacity, his involvement would undoubtedly enhance the film’s connection to its illustrious predecessors.

Visit Dan Lalonde Films For All Technology And Entertainment News

Source: Dark Horizons

Photo Credit: New Line Cinema