Andy Serkis has shared new details about The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, confirming a major casting change while offering insight into how original star Viggo Mortensen feels about it.
Jamie Dornan is set to take on the role of Aragorn, stepping into the boots made iconic by Mortensen in Peter Jackson’s original trilogy. The character will appear under his earlier alias, Strider, reflecting the film’s place in the timeline before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring.
Serkis, who both directs the film and reprises his role as Gollum, recently revealed to the Happy Sad Confused podcast that Mortensen has responded positively to the recasting. Speaking in a recent interview, he said the actor was “pleased” with Dornan taking over the part, despite not returning himself.
“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,” Serkis said.
“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.”
Mortensen had previously suggested he would only revisit Aragorn if the story and his age aligned with the character, and the new film’s positioning appears to have led to a younger casting choice.
The upcoming film will bridge the gap between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, focusing on Aragorn’s hunt for Gollum as the creature becomes a growing threat. Serkis has described the project as a more intimate and psychological exploration of Gollum and Sméagol, placing the character at the centre of the narrative.
Alongside Dornan, several familiar faces are set to return, including Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Elijah Wood as Frodo, with Kate Winslet and Leo Woodall joining the franchise in new roles.
Serkis added about the film and Tolkien’s work:
“There is so much more to be dug out of this very complex character — the most, perhaps, complex character [J.R.R.] Tolkien wrote, because he kept revisiting it as well, right? You know, multiple times,” Serkis said, adding, “And so there was a desire for a series of return to Middle-earth movies, and this seemed to be a great way in. To be able to bring some of the cast back, but also this is a very much more intimate story and a deep dive and psychological investigation into a character who has become, you know, sort of absorbed into public consciousness in a rather large way. So, it sort of feels like there is a real relevance.”
With production gearing up and a release planned for 2027, The Hunt for Gollum marks another ambitious expansion of Tolkien’s Middle-earth on screen, this time led by one of its most recognisable figures stepping behind the camera.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum hits cinemas on December 17th, 2027.
