The Lord of the Rings‘ 2026 movie, The Hunt For Gollum, looks set to involve a return for several iconic franchise characters – including Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn. However, the movie’s place in the timeline, coupled with uncertainty over Mortensen’s availability and interest in reprising his role, means that the movie may have to consider potentially replacing him – despite his legendary status. Fortunately, there are plenty of viable options for recasting Aragorn, if necessary.
Although the movie’s story remains mysterious, circumstantial evidence suggests that The Hunt For Gollum will focus on a story barely addressed in the original trilogy and source novels. It seems likely that the movie will explore what happened when Gollum left his cave and Gandalf and his allies set out to apprehend him before the enemy. According to Tolkien’s appendices, this brings him into contact with Aragorn (who transports him to Mirkwood), necessitating the character’s involvement in the story. However, since this happens before the main Lord of the Rings chronology, recasting Aragorn may be unavoidable. Despite Mortensen’s legacy, there are some interesting alternatives.
Although Viggo Mortensen made the role of Aragorn his own, there’s a sense that recasting the role with Irish actor Stuart Townsend would correct a historical injustice. Famously, Townsend was cast in the role for the original, before director Jackson concluded that he was too young to play the kind of hero the story needed. As a result, the then-27-year-old left the production in New Zealand, with Mortensen drafted in as an emergency replacement. Now in his 50s, Townsend is arguably perfectly placed to finally play the role that he was denied in the original trilogy.
Given the success and scale of the Lord of the Rings franchise, it seems almost inevitable that any Aragorn replacement will be a star in their own right. However, not only would this be a departure from a series that has historically cast relative unknowns, but it would also ignore an opportunity for a creative yet ingenious casting decision. Although Adrian Webster has no major credits, he did play Aragorn in the 2009 fan film version of Hunt For Gollum, imbuing the character with an ethereal mystery and carrying the low-budget project. Since he’s already proved he can deliver, Webster would be an incredible left-field option for the part.
Having experience within the Lord of the Rings‘ genre is not a prerequisite for being cast. Nevertheless, having an understanding of the story’s conventions and tropes could be a huge advantage – something that Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau could provide. As Jamie Lannister, Coster-Waldau embodies a complex and contradictory character, variously switching from hero to villain throughout the story. This uncertainty could be translated to Aragorn, giving the Ranger a real sense of danger and ambiguity, before his eventual return as King of Gondor.
Another key aspect of Aragorn is his quiet charisma – a trait that quickly establishes him as an understated – if occasionally reluctant – leader. Combining subtle charm with emotional intensity is something that Bridgerton‘s Regé-Jean Page could easily deliver. As Simon, Page is deeply conflicted, torn between his sense of duty and desire – much as Aragorn is with his bloodline, his bond with Arwen, and his destiny as king. To make the case even more compelling, Page has already provided a window into what he might bring as Aragorn, playing the paladin Xenk Yendar in Dungeons & Dragons.
One of the most important parts of Mortensen’s performance as Aragorn was his intensity. From his very first meeting with the hobbits in Bree, there is a pervading sense of danger about the character that makes him difficult to trust until he has proven himself. This ambivalence could be effectively captured by the 47-year-old star, Michael Fassbender. Not only is Fassbender best-known for playing villains, immediately giving his Aragorn an edge, but he has consistently proven himself capable of embodying rugged physicality, appearing in the likes of Band of Brothers, 300, and Centurion.
Aragorn’s combination of intense personal conflict and rugged strength makes him a challenge for any performer. However, blending these two traits is perfectly suited to a performer like Vincent Cassel. Cassel has made his name playing emotionally troubled protagonists, a strength that could speak to the conflict at the heart of Aragorn’s character. His performances in projects like Eastern Promises and Mesrine, where he helped make damaged individuals empathetic and relatable, suggests he has the emotional intelligence to bring out the complexities inherent in Strider.
Part of the legacy of Mortensen’s performance is that it helped establish a precedent for placing talented actors with limited leading part experience center stage. After a movie career that has featured multiple high-profile supporting roles, The Hunt For Gollum could be the perfect opportunity for Stevens to step into the limelight as Mortensen did. There is plenty in Stevens’ resume to suggest that he could excel in the role, including a recent star turn as Frank in the horror hit Abigail. His flexibility as a performer means that he could easily adapt to the demands of a role like Aragorn, taking his own career to the next level in the process.
Given the extent to which Peter Jackson’s trilogy has come to dominate the popular understanding of The Lord of the Rings as a media property, it’s easy to forget that there have been other successful adaptations – one of which provides an opportunity to continue a family legacy. In 1981, the BBC produced an epic 26-part radio adaptation of the story with an all-star cast. Crucially, the series featured Robert Stephens as Aragorn, providing the perfect opportunity for his son Toby to continue the family history of portraying the legendary hero.
Toby Stephens playing Aragorn would go beyond creating a neat symmetry with the 1981 radio series. As the star of Black Sails, Stephens has proven how accomplished he is at playing roguish-yet-honorable heroes, while simultaneously showcasing how he could make Aragorn a believably threatening presence. Considering that Stephens’ greatest strength as an actor is his intensity, this would make him a natural fit for the part.
If, as is expected, The Hunt For Gollum revolves around a physically arduous and dangerous quest into enemy territory, it’s essential that whoever plays Aragorn has the necessary commitment to accurately portray the hardships of such an ordeal. As one of the most committed actors working today, Christian Bale would be perfect for this aspect of the character. Throughout his career, Bale has proven himself willing to take on extremely daunting projects. Furthermore, he has proven himself capable of transforming his physicality to fit any brief, meaning he would be an ideal option, should producers want an established name.
Much like Christian Bale (not least because of the Batman connection), Pattinson is another star who is willing to commit himself to physically demanding roles. In The Lighthouse, for instance, Pattinson expertly embodies the psychological intensity the movie wants to explore. Although the circumstances would be different, it’s easy to see how he could bring this experience to bear on Aragorn’s solo mission across Middle-earth to apprehend Gollum. Coupled with the fact his star is firmly on the rise after The Batman, Pattinson could be an ideal choice to lead The Lord of the Rings into its next phase.