The Hunt for Gollum: Will Viggo Mortensen Return as Aragorn or Pass the Sword?

New Middle-earth movie is cooking, but the big question is whether Aragorn shows up with a new face. Yep, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is still happening, and the Aragorn situation is getting interesting.

What this movie actually covers

Timeline-wise, The Hunt for Gollum runs parallel to The Fellowship of the Ring. The kickoff: Gandalf sends Aragorn on a mission to track down Gollum so he does not hand Sauron a cheat sheet about the One Ring. Classic damage control.

Producers want the old guard back... maybe not for Aragorn

Behind the scenes, the team has been eager to bring back both Viggo Mortensen and Ian McKellen. But when it comes to Aragorn, there is a real chance they recast with a younger actor. Knight Edge Media says several unknowns have already met with Andy Serkis about the role after a decision was made not to digitally de-age Mortensen. It is also possible Mortensen simply opted out, which would make a recast unavoidable.

For context: it has been more than 25 years since they shot Fellowship. Mortensen was just over 40 when cameras rolled back then; now he is only a few years shy of 70. He still looks great, but that is a big gap to bridge if you need the same-era Aragorn.

My two cents on the de-aging question

I love Viggo in the role, but if the story needs a Fellowship-era Aragorn, I would rather they recast than paint over the years with tech. De-aging has come a long way, and sometimes it is slick, but it still yanks me out of the scene because I start watching the effect instead of the acting. Someday it will be invisible. Today, it is still a little magic trick-y.

And if they do recast Aragorn, you have to wonder: do they go younger across the board for anyone else who returns, like Gandalf? That is a bigger can of worms.

What the creatives are saying

Producer and co-writer Philippa Boyens said late last year that they have talked to Mortensen, but nothing is locked:

"Honestly, that is entirely going to be up to Viggo, collaboratively and we are at a very early stage. I have spoken to Viggo, Andy [Serkis] has spoken to him, Peter [Jackson] has spoken to him, we have all spoken to each other and honestly, I cannot imagine anyone else playing Aragorn, but it will be completely and entirely up to Viggo."

"I know Andy wants to work with him, but also, we do not see this as like, using A.I. [technology], this is about a digital make-up, and whether Viggo does it or will entirely depends on how good the script is. And he does not have a script yet. So to be fair to Viggo, let us see if we write a good enough role and that he can find enough in it to see that it is a performance he wants to take on. After that, it will be between Viggo and Andy of how that is achieved."

Where things stand right now

• The Hunt for Gollum is set during Fellowship-era events, starting with Gandalf sending Aragorn after Gollum to keep him quiet about the One Ring.
• Producers want Viggo Mortensen and Ian McKellen back, but Aragorn may be recast with a younger actor.
• Knight Edge Media reports unknown actors have already met with Andy Serkis about Aragorn after a choice not to de-age Mortensen.
• Mortensen was a bit over 40 during Fellowship; now he is nearing 70, which complicates playing the same-period Aragorn.
• Boyens says it is early, they have all spoken with Viggo, and any return hinges on the script he has not seen yet.
• Release date is currently December 17, 2027.

So, if it comes down to it: recast Aragorn or digitally de-age Viggo? I am team recast for this specific story, but I am curious where you land.