The Lord of the Rings saga is returning to theaters and has already stirred up excitement among fans: Aragorn will not be played by Viggo Mortensen. According to Knight Edge Media, the studio chose to look for a younger actor for The Hunt for Gollum, the upcoming spin-off of the franchise.
The project is in the hands of Warner and New Line Cinema, with the historic team of Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens involved once again. The idea is to continue expanding Middle-earth with stories set before the original trilogy.
Why Mortensen was left out of the role of Aragorn
According to Knight Edge Media, the studio seriously considered bringing Mortensen back and using digital de-aging technologies, as seen in Indiana Jones or Star Wars. The actor had even shown a willingness to return.
However, the final decision was different: to go for a younger Aragorn, more similar to the ranger who appears at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring, before becoming King Elessar.
Andy Serkis will direct the film and would return as Gollum
The direction will be led by Andy Serkis, who would also reprise Gollum, the character that defined his career. According to leaks, there have already been meetings with actors who could take on the role of the new Aragorn. No names are known, but the profile points to someone young.
