The Lord of the Rings’ Viggo Mortensen’s Replacement Reportedly Cast for New Movie

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Fans of The Lord of the Rings have a new movie to look forward to in 2027: The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. This will be the first live-action film set in Middle-earth since The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, and it will take place before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. Andy Serkis is directing and reprising his role as Gollum, and Ian McKellen has hinted at what fans can expect from Gandalf. Now, news has surfaced regarding the actor who will take on the role of Strider, previously played by Viggo Mortensen.

Actor Leo Woodall, known for his roles in “The White Lotus” and Netflix’s “Vladimir,” is reportedly set to play Aragorn/Strider in an upcoming film, according to Daniel Richtman via Fellowship of Fans. While the studio hasn’t officially confirmed the casting, this aligns with earlier reports suggesting they’re looking for a younger actor to portray Aragorn, potentially in a film focused on his earlier years, like “The Hunt for Gollum.”

What Do We Know About The Hunt for Gollum?

According to a new rumor, Leo Woodall is in talks to play a young Strider in the upcoming film ‘Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.’ He would portray the character previously known as Strider and played by Viggo Mortensen, but as a younger man. However, the studio has not officially confirmed this casting news. The information comes from DanielRPK.

— Fellowship of Fans (@FellowshipFans) March 7, 2026

There’s still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the upcoming film, The Hunt for Gollum. A leaked summary suggests the story will follow Gandalf sending Aragorn, then known as Strider, on a quest to find a young Smeagol before the Ring corrupts him and he becomes Gollum. Since both Smeagol is searching for the Ring, and the Ring itself is so important, knowing the location of either one could drastically change the power dynamics at play.

Considering the story and time period of The Hunt for Gollum, it’s logical to cast a younger actor as Aragorn, though they’ll have a lot to live up to. Viggo Mortensen’s portrayal of the character in The Lord of the Rings was truly iconic, earning him widespread critical praise. Many consider his performance to be one of the greatest in film history, and it cemented his status as a leading actor.

If the reports about Woodall being cast are true, it would be the first major casting announcement for The Hunt for Gollum. We already know Andy Serkis and Ian McKellen will reprise their roles, but little else is known about the cast. Elijah Wood has suggested he might return as Frodo, but that hasn’t been confirmed. As the film gets closer to starting production, we can expect to hear more news soon.

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2026-03-08 02:41