Director Andy Serkis has confirmed that Viggo Mortensen, the original Aragorn from the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, fully supports Jamie Dornan taking over the iconic role in the upcoming film 'The Hunt for Gollum'. Speaking on the 'Happy, Sad, Confused' podcast, Serkis shared that Mortensen is delighted with the casting decision.
Serkis Praises Dornan's Casting
'I really, really don't want to go into it right now because I do want to save that for 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 absolutely thrilled. And, by the way, so is Viggo.'
Serkis will also reprise his role as Gollum, the tragic figure he originated in Peter Jackson's original trilogy and later portrayed in 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'. Dornan will play Strider, the chief of the Northern Dunedain Rangers, known to fans as Aragorn.
Mortensen's Legacy and New Cast
Mortensen played the fan-favorite role in the original trilogy: 'The Fellowship of the Ring' (2001), 'The Two Towers' (2002), and 'The Return of the King' (2003). The new film's cast was officially announced by Warner Bros and New Line at their CinemaCon presentation earlier this month.
The story follows Aragorn and Gandalf as they search for Gollum to learn more about Bilbo's ring, which turns out to be the One Ring threatening all of Middle-earth during 'Lord of the Rings'. The film brings back several familiar faces, including Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins. Lee Pace also returns as the elf Thranduil, a role he played in the 'Hobbit' trilogy.
Newcomers to the franchise include Kate Winslet as Marigol and Leo Woodall as Halvard, another Dunedain who joins Strider on the hunt.
Gollum's Enduring Appeal
Speaking about Gollum's complexity, Serkis noted that JRR Tolkien's character is perhaps the most intricate he ever created. 'There is so much more to be dug out of this very complex character - the most, perhaps, complex character Tolkien wrote, because he kept revisiting it as well, right? You know, multiple times,' Serkis said.
'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 absorbed into public consciousness in a rather large way. So, it sort of feels like there is a real relevance.'
Behind the Scenes
Original trilogy screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens return alongside Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou to adapt the Tolkien source material. Serkis confirmed that the story fits neatly into the broader Middle-earth timeline. 'It sits very neatly between the 'Hobbit' trilogy and the 'Lord of the Rings,' and it is a great way of bringing audiences back into this world,' he said.
'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' is scheduled for a theatrical release on December 17, 2027.
