Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Kayleigh Donaldson | Film | October 22, 2026
We’re getting a new Lord of the Rings movie next year: The Hunt for Gollum This seems kind of unnecessary to me, to be honest. The bloated, needlessly dragged-out Hobbit trilogy just killed a lot of love that viewers had for the series, but those awful films also made a ton of money. Peter Jackson has handed directorial duties over to Andy Serkis, who is fresh of the, uh, success of Animal Farm. This film will be based on the appendices of the Tolkien books and will be told from Gollum’s perspective as Gandalf sends Aragorn on a quest to find him. Sure, why not? Serkis is back in the lead (double paycheque, smart man) and Ian McKellen is also returning. But Aragorn will not be played by Viggo Mortensen. He’s been replaced by Jamie Dornan.
Does this seem like the downgrade of the decade? Yes, but in fairness to Dornan, following on from Viggo effing Mortensen, one of the sexiest men of all time playing one of the hottest characters in fiction, a nigh-impossible task. Bless him because he also knows that.
In an interview with L’Officiel, the Italian magazine, Dornan noted that he’s aware of the pressure on his shoulders, and he’s not here to replace the man you 100% had fantasies about when he pushed open this big doors.
“There’s pressure when you’re trying to follow in those footsteps. I’ve been asked to play a super-iconic role, and I’ll do my best. But for me, Aragorn will always be just Viggo. His performance is one of my all-time favorites, and I feel honored to try to recapture at least some of the energy he originally brought to the character. There’s no part of me that’s trying to outdo him.”
But he has one fan in his corner: co-star Leo Woodall. “I can say that, now, my Aragorn is Jamie Dornan.”
I personally prefer Dornan when he does comedies. He’s hysterical in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and he was a great SNL: UK host. In The Tourist, he’s great with a black comedy and thriller blend. Yes, he can give great serial killer terror, as evidenced by Fifty Shades of Grey, but funny is where he’s best. Still, for the strong brooding type required for Aragorn, I can see the vision.
