‘The Lord of the Rings‘ fans have been worried about who would play Aragorn next. However, Andy Serkis has now shared some news that puts those worries to rest.
The actor and director confirmed that Viggo Mortensen, the original Aragorn, not only approves of Jamie Dornan taking over the role but is “absolutely thrilled” about it.
Viggo Mortensen’s Excitement for Jamie Dornan as Aragorn
Serkis appeared on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast to talk about the upcoming film ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum‘. At first, he hesitated to say much about the casting process, stating, “I really, really don’t want to go into it right now because I do want to save that for, you know, further down the line.”
Related: Stephen Colbert’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie Will Reveal A Secret That Nearly Doomed War of the Ring
But then he went ahead and shared Mortensen’s warm support for Dornan, who is known for ‘The Fall’ and ‘Fifty Shades of Grey‘. Serkis made it clear there is no bad blood, telling the host, “I’m gonna save all discussion about casting. Other than that, we are thrilled that Jamie’s doing it. I mean, we’re, you know, we’re absolutely thrilled. And, by the way, so is Viggo.”
Fans who were unsure about a new actor playing Strider can now breathe easy. Serkis added that Mortensen, who many call a true class act, has given his unofficial “seal of approval.”
‘The Hunt for Gollum’ Plot and Returning Cast
The new movie is currently in the “crunch stage” and will start filming soon. It takes place between ‘The Hobbit‘ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’, following Aragorn and Gandalf as they hunt for Gollum. Ian McKellen will return as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo, and Lee Pace as Thranduil. New faces include Kate Winslet as a character named Marigol and Leo Woodall as Halvard.
In case you missed it: Elijah Wood’s ‘Lord Of The Rings’ Confession Is A Twist No Tolkien Fan Saw Coming
For Serkis, this story is really about Gollum himself. He said the character might be the most complex one J.R.R. Tolkien ever wrote. He called the film a chance for a “deep dive and psychological investigation.” He added, “There is so much more to be dug out of this very complex character.“
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum‘ is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2027.
You might also want to read: Why Kate Winslet Rejected Eowyn In ‘The Lord Of The Rings’ Before Joining ‘The Hunt For Gollum’
