Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn (Strider) in the beloved “Lord of the Rings” film franchise, is not returning to reprise his role in Middle-earth’s latest journey.

Andy Serkis shares Viggo Mortensen’s reaction to Jamie Dornan being cast as Aragorn in LOTR: The Hunt for Gollum

Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn (Strider) in the beloved "Lord of the Rings" film franchise, is not returning to reprise his role in Middle-earth's latest journey.

By Staff Author

April 30, 2026 11:48 a.m. ET

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Jamie Dornan and Viggo Mortensen. Credit:

- Andy Serkis revealed what Viggo Mortensen thought of Jamie Dornan's casting as Aragorn.

- The director and Gollum actor discussed his new *LOTR* movie on the *Happy Sad Confused *podcast.

- Serkis said filming on *The Hunt for Gollum* will begin very soon.

There are apparently no bitter feelings when it comes to Jamie Dornan being recast as Viggo Mortensen's beloved character Aragorn (or Strider) in *The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum*.

During a chat with Josh Horowitz on Thursday's episode of the *Happy Sad Confused* podcast, the film's director and star, Andy Serkis, said Mortensen is very pleased that Dornan is taking over the helm.

"I really, really don't want to go into it right now because I do want to save that for, you know, further down the line," Serkis said when asked about Mortensen's decision not to reprise the role. "I'm gonna save all discussion about casting. Other than that, we are thrilled that Jamie's doing it. I mean, we're, you know, we're absolutely thrilled. And, by the way, so is Viggo."

Horowitz replied, "Oh, good, seal of approval, that means a lot," with Serkis adding, "100 percent."

Mortensen, whom the men called a "class act," discussed a possible return to Aragorn in 2024, admitting it all depended on whether the character would fit into the story.

"I don't know exactly what the story is. I haven't heard. Maybe I'll hear about it eventually," he told *GQ* at the time. "I like playing that character. I learned a lot playing the character. I would only do it if I was right for it in terms of, you know, the age I am now and so forth. I would only do it if I was right for the character. It would be silly to do it otherwise."

Viggo Mortensen in 'Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' (2002).

Although Serkis didn't expand on his discussions with Mortensen, he did mention that he's so excited to work with returnees Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Elijah Wood (Frodo), and Lee Pace (Thranduil), as well as newcomers Dornan, Leo Woodall, and Kate Winslet, who will play Strider, Halvard, and Marigol, respectively.

Serkis is not only directing the film, but he's set to portray the titular creature, which he played in Peter Jackson's original *LOTR* trilogy as well as *The Hobbit* trilogy.

'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' officially recasts Aragorn

Ian McKellen reveals Gandalf and Frodo to return for 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum'

As for who the main protagonist of *The Hunt for Gollum* is, Serkis teased, "I say nothing at this point about the story."

He did, however, reveal that filming is imminent. "We're at a kind of crunch stage now; we're just about to start shooting. That's what I'll say, you know, we're not far off shooting," he told Horowitz.

In terms of revisiting Middle-earth, Serkis said there is still so much to explore, particularly with his character Smeagol/Gollum.

"There is so much more to be dug out of this very complex character — the most, perhaps, complex character [J.R.R.] Tolkien wrote, because he kept revisiting it as well, right? You know, multiple times," Serkis explained. "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, you know, sort of absorbed into public consciousness in a rather large way. So, it sort of feels like there is a real relevance."

He concluded, "I think there's still a wealth of stuff to be got out of the character, and it sits very neatly between the *Hobbit* trilogy and the *Lord of the Rings*. And it is a great, I think, of bringing audiences back into this world."

Watch Serkis' full interview on *Happy Sad Confused* above.

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Source: “EW Sci-Fi”