Jamie Dornan has weighed in on the pressure of replacing Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, while Luke Evans has confirmed he won't reprise his role as Bard the Bowman in Andy Serkis' upcoming Middle-earth adventure.
With Serkis directing and Peter Jackson returning as a producer, The Hunt for Gollum will take us back to J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world for a story set between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. While the story is being kept under wraps, the decision to recast one of the franchise's most beloved heroes has generated plenty of discussion among fans.
Mortensen played Aragorn in Jackson's original The Lord of the Rings trilogy, released between 2001 and 2003. The actor replaced Stuart Townsend during production on the first movie and went on to deliver a performance that remains iconic.
Sharing his thoughts on stepping into those formidable boots while speaking to L'Officiel, The Fall star acknowledged the expectations surrounding his casting but made it clear that he isn't interested in competing with his predecessor.
"There's pressure when you're trying to follow in those footsteps. I've been asked to play a super-iconic role, and I'll do my best. But for me, Aragorn will always be just Viggo," he said. "His performance is one of my all-time favorites, and I feel honored to try to recapture at least some of the energy he originally brought to the character. There's no part of me that's trying to outdo him."
That approach makes sense, given how closely Mortensen's portrayal is associated with the character. Rather than attempting to imitate the original performance, Dornan will have to find his own way of bringing the future King of Gondor to life.
His co-star Leo Woodall, who will play Halvard, a Dúnadan Ranger, also shared his enthusiasm for the casting, telling the publication, "I can say that, now, my Aragorn is Jamie Dornan."
Meanwhile, another familiar face from Jackson's Middle-earth movies has ruled out a return. Evans made his franchise debut as Girion, the Lord of Dale, in the extended edition of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey before playing his descendant, Bard the Bowman, in The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies.
However, speaking to Variety, Evans confirmed that Bard won't appear in The Hunt for Gollum, suggesting that the character likely wouldn't still be alive during the film's timeline. His son, Bain, could be a different story.
"I think Bain, my son, could be in it. But I think Bard doesn’t. Take me back to Wellington. I’d love to go!" Evans said, making it clear that he'd happily return to New Zealand if another opportunity arose.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum stars Andy Serkis as Smeagol/Gollum, Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, Lee Pace as Thranduil, Jamie Dornan as Strider, aka Aragorn, Leo Woodall as Halvard, Kate Winslet as Marigol, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Seren.
The story delves into Gollum's past, back in a time when he was known as a young Stoorish lad called Sméagol.
Serkis will direct the movie. Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, who wrote The Lord of the Rings trilogy, are penning the screenplay, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim). The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit director Peter Jackson, meanwhile, is producing the project.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set to be released in theaters on December 17, 2027.