Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum is on the hunt for a new Aragorn

Andy Serkis says the King, Viggo Mortensen, will not return for the upcoming Lord Of The Rings side-prequel.

By Matt Schimkowitz  |  April 3, 2026 | 2:21pm
Screenshot: YouTube
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Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum is on the hunt for a new Aragorn

Rangers of the North, with the blood of the Dúnedain flowing through their veins, might age more slowly than the average man, but Viggo Mortensen isn’t so lucky. He looks great, to be clear, but not younger than he did in 2003’s The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King, and unfortunately, that’s sort of what writer-director-star Andy Serkis is going for with his long-expected prequel, The Hunt For Gollum. Perhaps, after observing Robert De Niro shuffle through The Irishman and the failed powers of the Dial Of Destiny, it was decided not to digitally de-age Mortensen for this latest jaunt through Middle-earth. Speaking with ScreenRant, Serkis confirmed that the role of Strider would be recast. “I don’t know what’s out there at the moment, but I know there’s a lot of speculation,” Serkis said, “but let’s just say we are recasting the role and we are on the way to finding someone.” Maybe Stuart Townsend is available. 

Previously, Mortensen expressed an “open mind” about returning, but ultimately, everyone’s better angels won out. If they have to do another Lord Of The Rings prequel—and they simply must—no one wants to watch a de-aged Mortensen talking to a de-aged Gollum, who also has to look a quarter-century younger for the new movie. Serkis already has his hands full, what with having to make Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen, who will be hunting for Gollum in the film, appear younger than they were when the 2001 original was released. 

In addition to The Hunt For Gollum, another Lord Of The Rings movie, Shadows Of The Past, co-written by Stephen Colbert, is currently in development. That one, however, won’t have to worry about making anyone look younger. Shadows is much more akin to the traditional legacy-sequel, with Sam, Merry, and Pippin retracing their Fellowship’s steps as Sam’s daughter, Elanor, investigates how the War Of The Ring was nearly lost, presumably by watching Peter Jackson’s The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. 

The Hunt For Gollum is expected to arrive in theaters on December 17, 2027.

 
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