The Lord of the Rings is in the midst of a resurgence, but Viggo Mortensen’s return could provide its 2026 film with an obstacle. Prime Video released The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 1 in 2022, while Warner Bros. released The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim in December 2024. If that wasn’t enough to show that there is no stopping the franchise, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will emerge in 2026, but it may need Mortensen on board to make it work. And his presence carries its own challenges.

The Hunt for Gollum movie will be directed by Andy Serkis and will also star him in his beloved role as Gollum. The film’s story will be told from Gollum’s perspective and will be set between Bilbo’s birthday party and the Fellowship reaching Moria. So, effectively, it will be set during the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The events of The Hunt for Gollum haven’t been confirmed, but presumably, they will follow Aragorn and Gandalf’s search for Gollum, which takes place during this period. However, Aragorn could create a challenge for the movie.

Viggo Mortensen’s Return Could Create A Problem For Lord Of The Rings’ Gollum Movie

Aragorn Could Present The Lord Of The Rings With A Challenge

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All the actors from The Lord of the Rings have aged since the franchise’s last movie, and this could be noticeable and distracting during The Hunt for Gollum. With the movie meant to take place during The Fellowship of the Ring, the characters should ideally look just as they did during the 2001 film. The fact that they won’t could prove jarring, especially in the case of Aragorn. It seems like Aragorn could have the lead role in the 2026 film, next to Gollum. It is Aragorn that finds Gollum in J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, not Gandalf.

Fortunately, there are ways to address this issue, whether it’s through technology or recasting.

Gollum won’t present an aging issue, as the character’s appearance is brought about through motion capture and CGI. But the other cast members from The Lord of the Rings will all look older, and Mortsensen will be front and center throughout The Hunt for Gollum. Fortunately, there are ways to address this issue, whether it’s through technology or recasting.
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How The Hunt For Gollum Could Handle The Returning Cast’s Ages

There Are A Few Solutions To The Lord Of The Rings’ Age Problem

Philippa Boyens confirmed that she, Serkis, and producer Peter Jackson have already asked Viggo Mortensen to join the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, raising the question of how they will tackle aging. Of all the characters likely to appear in The Hunt for Gollum, Aragorn is one of the most probable. Boyens claimed she would still want Aragorn in the movie if Mortensen didn’t reprise his role. The movie may end up eschewing Viggo Mortensen for a younger lookalike actor, which would address the aging problem it faces. However, should Mortensen step back into Aragorn’s shoes, the movie could use AI technology to de-age actors. It remains to be seen exactly how effective this may be for complex leading roles. However, Andy Serkis certainly sounded confident when he told Orlando Bloom that he would tackle his age with AI (Variety). Orlando Bloom is slated to join The Hunt for Gollum as Legolas, presenting another age issue for the movie, although not one as large as the one presented by Aragorn. Regardless, it seems like Mortensen’s age may be navigable in The Lord of the Rings’ new Gollum movie.