Jamie Dornan says Aragorn will ‘always be’ Viggo Mortensen as he takes on ‘The Lord of the Rings’ role
“I’ve been asked to play a super-iconic role, and I’ll do my best,” Dornan said about the role
Jamie Dornan has opened up about taking over the role of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, acknowledging the pressure of following Viggo Mortensen’s acclaimed performance in the original film trilogy.
In an interview with L’Officiel, the Belfast actor said he understands the responsibility that comes with portraying one of Middle-earth’s most recognisable characters. Mortensen played Aragorn in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which concluded with The Return of the King in 2003.
“There’s pressure when you’re trying to follow in those footsteps,” Dornan said. “I’ve been asked to play a super-iconic role, and I’ll do my best.”
The actor made it clear that he is not approaching the role as a competition with his predecessor. Instead, he praised Mortensen’s interpretation of the character and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to take on the part.
“But for me, Aragorn will always be just Viggo,” Dornan said. “His performance is one of my all-time favourites, and I feel honoured to try to recapture at least some of the energy he originally brought to the character. There’s no part of me that’s trying to outdo him.”
Dornan will portray a younger version of Aragorn, who is also known as Strider, in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the film follows the search for Gollum as Gandalf and Aragorn attempt to uncover information about the creature and the One Ring.
Andy Serkis, who portrayed Gollum in the previous films, is directing the new instalment and will reprise his role. The project also brings back several familiar faces, including Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins and Lee Pace as Thranduil.
New cast members include Kate Winslet as Marigol, Anya Taylor-Joy as Seren and Leo Woodall as Halvard, another Ranger. Woodall has also spoken positively about Dornan taking on Aragorn, expressing his own excitement about the casting.
Mortensen is not returning for the film. The actor previously said he would consider reprising the character only if it made sense for his age and the story, having originally played Aragorn more than two decades ago.
The recasting places Dornan at the centre of a major return to Middle-earth, with audiences likely to compare his interpretation with Mortensen’s established portrayal. Dornan’s comments suggest he intends to respect that legacy while bringing his own performance to the character.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on December 17, 2027. The film reunites Serkis with original trilogy collaborators Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who are producing the project.
