Recasting Lord of the Rings for the 2020s

As a huge fan, I truly believe the original Lord of the Rings movies are masterpieces – and for good reason. While they were built on the incredible foundation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s stories, Peter Jackson really brought something special to them, a magic he hasn’t quite captured in his other films. The actors were perfect too; it’s hard to imagine anyone else in those roles! Lately, though, people have been talking about recasting the characters, especially with the new movie, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, on the way.

A lot of the discussion around a potential remake centers on how difficult it would be to imagine anyone other than the original actors in these iconic roles. This is probably why rumors are strong that Elijah Wood will return as Frodo, Ian McKellan as Gandalf, and fans have reacted negatively to the idea of anyone else playing Aragorn besides Viggo Mortensen. Another point to consider is that most of the original cast were relatively unknown at the time, without a history of big-budget films. However, if a recast were necessary today, these actors would be the closest anyone could get to the originals.

Tom Holland as Frodo Baggins

As a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings, it’s honestly hard for me to imagine anyone but Elijah Wood as Frodo. Those eyes just are Frodo, you know? Even Wood and the people who cast the short film The Hunt for Gollum seem to feel the same way. But, if for some reason they did need to find a new actor, I think Tom Holland could actually pull it off. Most people know him as Spider-Man from the Marvel movies – he’s even got a new one coming out, Spider-Man: Brand New Day – and I think he’s got the range to take on a role like Frodo.

Holland has shown he can play endearing and even naive characters, but also handle deeply emotional moments – a skill he particularly demonstrated in Spider-Man: No Way Home with the heartbreaking death of Aunt May. This suggests he has the acting ability to convincingly portray Frodo’s difficult and frightening journey to Mount Doom.

Gaten Matarazzo as Samwise Gamgee

Playing Samwise Gamgee, or Sam, is a challenging role, as Sean Astin, the original actor, can attest. Sam begins as a simple gardener for Frodo, but ultimately becomes crucial to destroying the One Ring, and delivers some of the most moving moments in the trilogy. Gaten Matarazzo, famous for playing Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things, has demonstrated a similar talent for portraying both sweetness and deep emotion.

While many know Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin from Stranger Things, he’s actually a seasoned theater performer. He’s been acting on Broadway since before he even started on the show, so he definitely has the experience needed to play the role of Sam.

Joe Keery as Merry

With Marco Matarazzo potentially joining the cast of a Lord of the Rings project, it would be logical to also include his Stranger Things co-star, Joe Keery. Keery seems particularly well-suited to play Merry Brandybuck, a hobbit who, like most of his kind, is friendly and likable, but also grows into a more mature and responsible character throughout the story. Keery already demonstrated an ability to play a big brother figure to the younger cast members on Stranger Things, making the transition to this role a natural fit.

Merry and Pippin, the hobbits, were known for their love of dancing and singing, and Joe Keery has those talents as well. Beyond his acting, Keery is a musician who releases music under the name Djo. While the tavern songs Merry sang might be different from Keery’s song “Basic Being Basic,” he’s definitely capable of pulling off the musical parts of the role. Plus, the original actor who played Merry, Dominic Monaghan, had a charming personality, and Keery has that same quality.

Andrew Garfield as Pippin

Pippin is the last of the four hobbits we need to cast, and he’s a tricky one! Billy Boyd perfectly played Pippin in the original movies, capturing his innocent, playful, and sometimes reckless nature without it feeling forced. A good modern choice would be Andrew Garfield. While he’s in his 40s now, age isn’t always straightforward in Lord of the Rings – Aragorn is already 87 years old in The Fellowship of the Ring!

Andrew Garfield, despite his experience playing roles like Spider-Man, would be a great fit for Pippin. He’s known for playing characters with a youthful and slightly silly side, and he’s comfortable with both dancing and singing, as demonstrated in his impressive performance as Jonathan Larson in the 2021 film Tick, Tick… Boom! He’s also proven he can handle more serious roles, making him well-suited to portray Pippin’s growth and maturity in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

Gary Oldman as Gandalf

It’s hard to picture anyone else playing Gandalf after Ian McKellan, the acclaimed actor who perfectly captured the character’s wisdom, elegance, and charisma. If the role were to be recast, the new actor would need a similar level of experience and respect in the industry. Several actors working today could potentially fit the part, but Gary Oldman seems like the strongest choice. Like McKellan, Oldman is a highly decorated and well-loved actor with a diverse filmography that demonstrates he could handle the challenge of joining the world of The Lord of the Rings.

Everyone knows Gary Oldman as Sirius Black from the Harry Potter films and as Gordon in the Batman Dark Knight trilogy, but he’s been in so many amazing roles over the years – things like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Dracula – that really show off his range as an actor. Seeing that, it’s easy for me to picture him perfectly stepping into the role of this wise, kind, and yet incredibly powerful wizard. I think he’d be fantastic!

Oscar Isaac as Aragorn

It’s no surprise Viggo Mortensen was the ideal Aragorn – Peter Jackson clearly had that in mind when he cast the role. That’s why fans are upset about someone else potentially playing the character in The Hunt for Gollum. But if a new actor is needed, Oscar Isaac would be a fantastic choice. He’s proven his range with roles like Poe Dameron in the Star Wars sequels and his recent portrayal of Victor Frankenstein in the upcoming Frankenstein (2025).

Oscar Isaac has experience with large franchises like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so taking on a role in Lord of the Rings wouldn’t be too intimidating for him. He’s also proven, with characters like Poe Dameron, that he can play confident and charismatic characters – a quality shared by Aragorn. While any actor cast as Aragorn will likely face criticism, Isaac would bring a fresh perspective to the role and is certainly capable of handling everything the character demands throughout the original story.

Pedro Pascal as Boromir

It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Boromir, but if someone had to take on the role of the conflicted Gondorian prince that audiences love to dislike, Pedro Pascal would be a great choice after Sean Bean. Pascal isn’t someone you’d immediately hate—quite the opposite. He excels at portraying complex characters who initially come across as unlikeable but are ultimately revealed to be good-hearted. Think of his roles as Joel in The Last of Us or Din Djarin in The Mandalorian.

Pascal, like Isaac, is no stranger to big-name franchises. It would be great to see them act together on screen. While it might be difficult to watch Pascal get hurt, even something as dramatic as being hit with arrows probably wouldn’t be worse than what audiences have already seen – like the infamous scene where he was attacked with a golf club.

Jamie Campbell Bower as Legolas

Legolas was known in the original movies for being strikingly handsome. While elves are generally portrayed as beautiful, Orlando Bloom brought a particular attractiveness to the role. Many fans believe Jamie Campbell Bower, the actor who plays One/Henry Creel/Vecna in Stranger Things, would be an excellent choice to play Legolas—certainly not as Vecna! Beyond being a talented actor, Bower has the right look and presence to embody the character.

You know, even when I just see photos of Will Bower, there’s something naturally graceful and almost… elven about him. It’s easy to picture him as Legolas, and honestly, it’s not just because he’s so tall! I thought he was fantastic playing the villain Vecna, but I’d love to see him switch gears and play a proper hero. And get this – he’s actually joining The Rings of Power for season three! We don’t know who he’s playing yet, but I’m already excited to see what he brings to Middle-earth.

Elle Fanning as Arwen

Elle Fanning naturally has an ethereal quality, much like Jamie Campbell Bower, making her a strong candidate to play Arwen. While Liv Tyler, who originally played Arwen, is incredibly popular with fans – almost as much as Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn – Fanning would still be an excellent choice for a recast. She, like Tyler, can portray both Arwen’s gentle and kind nature, as well as her strength and courage.

Elle Fanning has proven her acting skills in films like Predator: Badlands, as well as her acclaimed roles as Catherine in The Great and Aurora in the Maleficent movies. While audiences are very fond of Liv Tyler as the original elven princess (and eventual Queen of Gondor), Fanning would bring a similar gentle strength and elegance to the role.

Stellan Skarsgård as Gimli

Gimli is a tricky character to recast because he’s humorous without being overly goofy, and grumpy without being truly frightening. It’s also a challenge considering the original actor, John Rhys-Davies, is a much larger man – six foot one – than the four-foot-tall dwarf he portrayed. Stellan Skarsgård could handle this role well. Many fans suggest Jack Black, but he might play the part too comically. Skarsgård, however, could perfectly balance Gimli’s funny side with his more serious moments.

Stellan Skarsgård has a knack for playing complex characters, as seen in his roles as Luthen Rael in Andor and Dr. Erik Selvig in several Marvel movies. This experience makes him a strong candidate to play Gimli, capturing both the dwarf’s initial gruffness and his eventual warmth. It would also be incredibly funny to watch Skarsgård compete in a drinking contest with Jamie Campbell Bower as Legolas, mirroring their iconic rivalry from the original stories.

Morgan Freeman as Saruman

Replacing Christopher Lee as Saruman would be incredibly difficult, much like trying to recast Gandalf. Lee’s performance was so strong and memorable throughout the trilogy. While no one could truly fill his shoes, Morgan Freeman is an actor of similar talent who would be fantastic in the role. Just picturing Freeman’s calming voice speaking Saruman’s menacing lines is enough to show he could pull it off.

Let’s be real, any big casting choice for a Lord of the Rings character is going to get some pushback – it just comes with the territory! But honestly, I think these actors could genuinely pull it off. Nothing will ever quite capture the magic of the original films, of course, but I think they’d bring something fresh and captivating to the story, a new take we could all enjoy.

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/7-underrated-lord-of-the-rings-trilogy-scenes-that-are-never-talked-about-enough/embed/#

2026-03-29 01:12