Lord of the Rings fans have expressed anger after it was confirmed that Aragorn will be recast in the upcoming prequel film The Hunt for Gollum. The movie, set for release in December 2027, follows Gandalf and Aragorn's hunt for Gollum after his escape from Mordor, an off-screen storyline from the original trilogy.
Andy Serkis will return as director and voice of Gollum, while Sir Ian McKellen reprises his role as Gandalf. However, Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn in the original trilogy, will not return. Serkis told ScreenRant: 'I don't know what’s out there at the moment, but I know there’s a lot of speculation, but let’s just say we are recasting the role, and we are on the way to finding someone.'
Fans took to social media to express their displeasure. @MadsPosting stated: 'Nobody can top Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn,' while @toofarST raged: 'This is the franchise EVERYONE knows you should not touch, and not only are you going to do that, but you’re also gonna f**k with its most beloved character??' Others, like @TheManlet_King, begged: 'Please just don’t make this.'
Speculation arose that actor Leo Woodall, known for The White Lotus and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, might take the role. Elijah Wood, who played Frodo, appeared to confirm this on a podcast, though he laughed immediately, leaving doubt. Fans reacted angrily, with @getrichordietri calling it 'disrespectful' and @LilDivmond saying interest had 'dropped significantly'. However, some noted Woodall 'looks like' Mortensen.
Kate Winslet has also joined the cast as a female lead, with filming set for New Zealand from May to October. Elijah Wood has hinted he may return as Frodo, saying he does not want another actor playing the role.
