Andy Serkis confirms Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is recasting Aragorn

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Andy Serkis, who is directing and playing Gollum in the upcoming ‘Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’ movie, has announced they are finding a new actor to play Aragorn. Viggo Mortensen, who previously played the role, will not be returning.

The upcoming movie takes place between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It centers on Aragorn’s mission to locate Gollum, preventing him from revealing to the Dark Lord Sauron that Bilbo Baggins possesses the One Ring – a secret discovered during an encounter in a cave beneath the Misty Mountains.

As fans know, Gollum reveals Frodo’s location – “Baggins! Shire!” – after being tortured in Mordor during The Fellowship of the Ring. This leads the Ringwraiths to chase Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin. Therefore, it’s very probable the movie will conclude with Aragorn arriving at the Prancing Pony to rescue them.

Andy Serkis has announced that a different actor will play Aragorn in the upcoming film, The Hunt for Gollum, replacing Viggo Mortensen.

Andy Serkis says Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is “on the way” to finding its new Aragorn

The upcoming Lord of the Rings film, ‘The Hunt for Gollum,’ is scheduled to be released in December 2027, so filming will likely begin shortly. Director Andy Serkis has confirmed to ScreenRant that the role of Aragorn is being recast, but he hasn’t shared any information about who might take on the part.

He acknowledged there was a lot of talk about the project, but confirmed they were currently looking for a new actor for the role. He declined to comment on rumors that Kate Winslet would be joining the film.

According to Serkis, the new film, ‘The Hunt for Gollum,’ is set chronologically between the events of ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ The story involves both a literal chase to find Gollum and an exploration of his inner struggles.

As a huge Lord of the Rings fan, I was so excited to hear the director say the new movie is going to feel like a real Middle-earth film! He also said they’ve gotten the whole original team back together, which is amazing. But then, just before that, Elijah Wood kinda let slip who’s playing Aragorn in ‘The Hunt for Gollum,’ so the news is a bit of a mixed bag right now!

Is Leo Woodall playing Aragorn in Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum?

Given how popular the Lord of the Rings movies are, it’s no surprise people are wondering who could play Aragorn next. A recent rumor suggests Leo Woodall, known for his roles in Bridget Jones and as Vladimir, might be taking on the part in a new film called Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.

Andy Serkis hasn’t said whether the casting rumors are true, but a recent interview with Elijah Wood seems to confirm that Max Woodall will be taking on the role. When asked about Woodall’s involvement on the ‘Happy Sad Confused’ podcast, Wood responded with, “Yes, that’s true. Those are big shoes to fill, I can’t imagine… But it’s going to be great.”

While he didn’t directly say Woodall will play Aragorn, the evidence suggests the British actor is a strong contender for the role, especially since they’re recasting it. Since then, fans have been discussing whether Woodall is up to the challenge.

One viewer commented on a clip from the podcast, praising Viggo Mortensen’s iconic portrayal of Aragorn, saying it’s become inseparable from the character. They noted that Leo Woodall faces a huge challenge in taking on the role and making the audience see him as Aragorn, rather than constantly comparing him to Mortensen, calling it a truly difficult task.

Many viewers expressed disappointment with the casting of Leo Woodall as a young Aragorn. One online commenter questioned the decision, asking why the show keeps casting inexperienced actors in significant roles.

While some people acknowledged Leo Woodall’s talent as an actor, many expressed concern about anyone replacing Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn. One person commented that although Woodall is a promising young actor they’ve seen in other roles, they loved Mortensen’s portrayal of Aragorn and doubted they’d feel the same way about the new actor.

Before the actor playing Aragorn in the upcoming Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is revealed, here’s a look at the movies we’re most excited for in 2026.

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2026-04-03 16:49