Exciting news for fans of Middle-earth: Warner Bros. has announced the development of two new live-action films set in the Lord of the Rings universe. The first installment is titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which is expected to be released in 2026. Andy Serkis will not only direct but will also return to the iconic role of Gollum.
Aragorn, a pivotal character in The Hunt for Gollum, raises the question of whether Viggo Mortensen will once again don the mantle of the Ranger of the North. Philippa Boyens, an Oscar-winning screenwriter and one of the creators behind The Hunt for Gollum, expressed a strong desire for Mortensen to reprise his role. She revealed this during an interview with The Playlist.
“The decision ultimately lies with Viggo,” Boyens said. “We’ve all had conversations—Andy, Peter [Jackson], and I have reached out to him. Honestly, I can’t envision anyone else portraying Aragorn, but it entirely depends on Viggo’s choice.”
The Hunt for Gollum takes place during the events leading up to The Fellowship of the Ring, occurring after Bilbo Baggins’ 111th birthday and prior to Frodo’s departure from the Shire to Rivendell. In this film, Gandalf fears that Gollum might divulge secrets about the One Ring to Sauron, prompting him to enlist Aragorn to locate the creature.
Beyond Philippa Boyens, Andy Serkis is also eager to collaborate with Mortensen for this upcoming project.
“Andy has expressed a strong desire to work with him again,” Boyens noted. “This isn’t just about utilizing AI technology; it’s about digital makeup. Whether Viggo comes on board will depend on how compelling the script is. At this point, he hasn’t seen a script yet. We hope to write a role that resonates with him, making it a performance he wants to engage with. After that, it really becomes a conversation between Viggo and Andy regarding the best approach.”
If Mortensen declines the opportunity to portray Aragorn in The Hunt for Gollum, Boyens still hopes to involve him in transitioning the character to a new actor.
The first of the two new films will be The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an animated feature set to hit theaters on December 13, 2024.
