While the hunt for Gollum is just beginning, the hunt for everyone’s favorite Dúnedain Ranger has finally come to a close, leaving fans of the Lord of the Rings screen franchise unsurprisingly divided. Warner Bros. officially announced at CinemaCon 2026 that Irish actor Jamie Dornan will play Gollum in the upcoming film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Dornan is likely best known for his work as The Huntsman in Once Upon A Time and Christian Grey in 50 Shades of Grey, and for his impeccable comedic timing in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.
Directed by none other than Gollum himself, Andy Serkis, the movie is set between Bilbo Baggins’ infamous birthday party and the formation of the Fellowship of the Ring. Desperate to get the One Ring back from Bilbo, Gollum leaves his cave in search of it, which consequently leads Gandalf the Grey — played once again by Sir Ian McKellen — to ask Aragorn (at this point in time still known as “Strider”) for aid.
Since it was first revealed that Aragorn would feature prominently in The Hunt for Gollum, one question has been on everyone’s mind: Can anyone really replace Viggo Mortensen? Those are some pretty large boots to fill. While we’d all love to see Mortensen return to the role, he’s has aged just like the rest of us, and he obviously doesn’t look like he did 25 years ago. (Unlike Aragorn, who stays remarkably youthful, due to his Númenorian roots.) Unfortunately, time travel isn’t an option for the actor, and AI de-aging in movies is still a messy, unsettling technology.
When it comes to keeping up Aragorn’s ruggedly good looks, we’re cautiously optimistic about Dornan’s casting. Side-by-side, he and Mortensen look remarkably similar, especially by comparison with Leo Woodall, who was also rumored to be in the running to play the character. And the power of a good wig and some makeup can help. It’s easy to imagine Dornan caked in mud and orc blood, dressed in leathers, running across the fields of Middle-earth. But will Dornan be able to bring the same energy that Mortensen brought to the character?
Aragorn is the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor, but part of what makes his character so appealing in both the books and the movies is his reluctance to become king, and the journey of acceptance he goes through. Besides being an accomplished swordsman, Aragorn is known for his courage, unfailing kindness, emotional intelligence, and his determination to protect those who mean the most to him. Viggo Mortensen embodied those traits throughout the trilogy, making his Aragorn a believably conflicted but appealing character. While he wasn’t Jackson’s original choice to play Aragorn, it’s clear, even after all these years, that he was the right choice.
So does Jamie Dornan have what it takes to throw open the double doors of Helm’s Deep? Looks aside, will he be able to embody Aragorn and play the greatest king in Middle-earth’s Third Age the way Viggo did? Or will the shadow of 50 Shades of Grey continue to hang over his head?
We’ll find out when The Hunt for Gollum hits theaters on December 17, 2027.
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