Aragorn's Lord Of The Rings Movie Return Looks Less Likely Now (Despite Viggo Mortensen Being Open To It)

Summary Viggo Mortensen may not return as Aragorn in The Hunt for Gollum since the actor wants to be the same age as his beloved character.

The LOTR prequel seeks to explore Gollum's backstory and connections with other characters.

Mortensen's commitment to the role of Aragorn reflects the enduring impact of the LOTR trilogy.

Although actor Viggo Mortensen has shown interest in returning to Warner Bros.' upcoming Lord of the Rings project, Aragorn's live-action movie return in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum seems even less likely than before. The film, which will serve as a prequel to J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic Lord of the Rings trilogy, will be produced by Peter Jackson. Known for his remarkable motion-capture performance of Gollum, actor Andy Serkis was tapped to direct The Hunt for Gollum. Still in the earliest stages of development, the film's script is a pretty unknown quantity.

By the time viewers properly meet Gollum in The Two Towers, the second entry in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, the character has been corrupted by the seductive power of the One Ring. When Gollum crosses paths with Frodo and Sam, the trio form an uneasy alliance, with the Hobbits taking the unhinged creature as their guide. A former Hobbit himself, Gollum had possession of the One Ring for a staggering 500 years. Needless to say, The Hunt for Gollum boasts plenty of narrative possibilities — some of which could cross paths with other LOTR characters' stories.

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Viggo Mortensen Will Only Play Aragorn If Lord Of The Rings' New Movie Gets Around The Age Issue

The Aragorn Actor Wants The Character's Age To Align With His Own

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Although Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning The Return of the King premiered over 20 years ago, the LOTR trilogy still has a resounding impact on the nature of Hollywood movie franchises, the way viewers interact with fandoms, and the trajectory of pop culture at large. While the trilogy is considered a masterpiece, there's still a desire for more Tolkien adaptations. Not to mention, given The Lord of the Rings' remarkable cast of characters, the actors who portrayed Tolkien's classic LOTR figures are equally beloved by fans. That said, any newly announced projects prompt folks to wonder who's returning to Middle-earth.

Aragorn served as Mortensen's star-making role...

One such fan-favorite character is Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn, a Ranger of the North who swears to aid Frodo by joining the Fellowship of the Ring. Later on, he is revealed to be the heir of Isildur, an ancient King of Arnor and Gondor, and claims his rightful place on the throne. Undeniably, Aragorn served as Mortensen's star-making role. Decades later, the actor still has goodwill towards the character and the LOTR series. In fact, Mortensen said he would return for Gollum if "I was right for it in terms of, you know, the age I am now."

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The Hunt For Gollum Can't Avoid Having A Younger Aragorn

Peter Jackson's New Movie Must Follow The Lord Of The Rings' Canon Timeline

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After playing Aragorn from 2001 to 2003, Mortensen did not return for Peter Jackson's oft-maligned The Hobbit trilogy. Nonetheless, the Oscar-nominated actor has admitted that he "enjoyed" the role of Aragorn and learned a lot from his time working on The Lord of the Rings movies. On the other hand, Mortensen is determined to only reprise the role if he's right for the character, claiming that it would be "silly" to return if he wasn't the best fit. That said, the news has fans feeling somewhat disappointed insofar as The Hunt for Gollum is a LOTR prequel.

Since he doesn't age at quite the same rate as other humans, Aragorn might look a bit more youthful for a longer period...

A member of the Dúnedain race of Men, Aragorn falls in love with Arwen, an immortal elf who gives up her unending lifespan to be with him. Given his unique lineage, Aragorn lives longer than the average Men of Middle-earth. After ruling for 122 years, Aragorn dies at the age of 210 years old. Since he doesn't age at quite the same rate as other humans, Aragorn might look a bit more youthful for a longer period of time. With this in mind, it's hard to imagine a present-day Viggo Mortensen accurately portraying Aragorn in a LOTR prequel.

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How The Lord Of The Rings' New Movie Can Solve Its Aragorn Problem

There Are Ways Around Viggo Mortensen's Age Factor

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Prior to the events of Frodo's quest, Gandalf grows suspicious of Bilbo, who seemingly possesses Sauron's One Ring. In order to prove his inkling right, Gandalf tasks Aragorn with finding Gollum, which leads the ranger to capture Gollum in the Dead Marshes. Afterward, Gandalf questions the ring's former owner in Mirkwood. In order for the canonical timeline to work, Aragorn and several other characters must be involved in The Hunt for Gollum. While The Rings of Power has recast key LOTR characters, Gollum could use de-aging tech or make-up to make Viggo Mortensen look like young Aragorn again.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is slated for release in 2026.