One of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum's biggest casting surprises came when the news broke that 12 12 12 star Jamie Dornan will play Aragorn. He takes over the role from Viggo Mortensen, who portrayed the sword-wielding hero in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
With Andy Serkis directing and Jackson returning to produce, 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 plot details are being kept under wraps, the decision to recast one of the franchise's most beloved heroes has generated plenty of discussion among fans.
Mortensen wasn't actually Jackson's first choice, as he replaced Stuart Townsend during production on the first movie and went on to deliver a performance that is considered iconic among fans.
During a recent interview with Collider, Dornan expressed his excitement to play the Dúnedain Ranger and hinted at the new sides of Strider we'll get to explore in Serkis' prequel.
"Oh, man. [Laughs] Well, you know, it’s just a mad privilege and honor to be literally filling those boots and wearing that costume," he said of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. "And we’re seeing them at a different point — we’re seeing him as very much Strider, the Dúnedain Ranger."
"It’s sort of before all of the weight and expectation of being the rightful heir to Gondor and all of that weight that has been placed upon him," the actor continued. "It’s obviously that he knows that’s who he truly is, but it’s not being thrust on him in the same way it is in Fellowship, so we’re seeing him at a different point."
Serkis, meanwhile, spoke with The Morning Mosh Pit and confirmed that The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum has "just wrapped principal photography" in New Zealand.
He added, "I’m directing this one, so it’s been an incredible journey back into an endlessly complex and wonderfully drawn and written character for the third time. The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit trilogy, and now going back in on this film. So, I’m very excited about it. He just is one of Tolkien’s most complicated characters and does definitely bear closer examination."
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.