A Middle-Earth Reunion? LOTR Star Spills on Potential Return to Iconic Franchise
As whispers of the 2026 release of “The Hunt for Gollum” swirl, a star from the original Lord of the Rings trilogy shares his thoughts on returning to the mystical lands of Middle Earth. Since the epic conclusion of the LOTR series in 2003, fans have been treated to “The Hobbit” films and more recently, the “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” TV series that kicked off in 2022. And it doesn’t stop there! We can look forward to the anime film “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” dropping later this year, and a Gollum-centric live-action series slated for a 2026 debut.
But let’s cut to the chase: How does one beloved star feel about potentially revisiting his role, maybe with a little help from today’s de-aging tech?
Set to unravel 183 years before the events we know and love, the upcoming anime brings back Miranda Otto as Éowyn, while the live-action “Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” will see Andy Serkis not only reprise his role as Gollum but also take the director’s chair! The original dream team of Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens are on board as producers, promising yet another captivating chapter.
In a sit-down with UNILAD, Lord of the Rings’ very own Aragorn, actor Viggo Mortensen, shared his thoughts on the possibility of returning to Tolkien’s world. With his new directorial project, “Dead Don’t Hurt” making waves, the conversation quickly turned to Middle-Earth.
Mortensen expressed openness to the idea of using de-aging tech for a LOTR return, stating, “Possibly, yeah.” He’s curious about how such a story could be adapted, noting, “I mean, if anyone can do it, he [Peter Jackson] proved it in Lord of the Rings. What he invented with his team still holds up quite well for the most part 20 years on, so if anyone can make that work really well…”
De-aging technology has had its hits and misses in Hollywood, with films like “Ant-Man,” “Blade Runner 2049,” and “Captain Marvel” experimenting with varying degrees of success. But Mortensen remains skeptical, citing “The Irishman” as an instance where the tech didn’t completely win him over.
Despite the technological prowess displayed in “The Irishman,” opinions remain split. Some viewers critiqued the unnatural appearance of the younger selves of Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, while others appreciated the attempt. Mortensen added his preference for traditional casting, as seen in “The Godfather” with Robert De Niro and Marlon Brando portraying the same character at different ages, calling it “interesting… really effective.”
When it comes down to a potential LOTR comeback, Mortensen outlined his condition: seamless and effective use of de-aging technology. “If they can do it in a way that’s kind of seamless and works. Sure. I mean, I’d be open to it. If anybody can pull that off it would be Peter Jackson.”
So, LOTR fans, how do we feel about potentially seeing Aragorn and the rest of the Fellowship (yes, including our dear Samwise Gamgee) back on screen with a sprinkle of tech magic? Let the speculation begin!