Viggo Mortensen could finally return to the Lord of the Rings franchise in 2026 – a prospect made more likely by the actor’s previous stance on projects set in Middle-earth. Despite being an established star today, Viggo Mortensen arguably only achieved global fame off the back of his performance as Aragorn in the original series. As part of the series’ acclaimed ensemble, he won critical praise for his performance, becoming a fan favorite. While his return to Middle-earth has remained a tantalizing prospect for years, the series’ 2026 makes this more likely than ever thanks to a prior commitment.

Although the future of the Lord of the Rings franchise remains somewhat uncertain, it has been confirmed that 2026 will bring an exciting new chapter for the saga. Set to be directed by Andy Serkis, and with original visionary Peter Jackson returning as a producer, The Hunt For Gollum will focus on events before the majority of The Fellowship of the Ring‘s story, though still part of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy’s timeline. Returning to this period in Middle-earth’s history is already exciting for fans. However, other story details potentially pave the way for Mortensen’s return – a possibility teased by the actor himself.

Viggo Mortensen Wouldn’t Appear In The Hobbit To Preserve Book Canon

Custom image by Yeider Chacon

Despite the popularity of his take on Aragorn, Viggo Mortensen hasn’t appeared in a Lord of the Rings or Hobbit movie since 2003’s Return of the King. While on one level this may seem strange, it actually makes perfect sense for the character, given the stories that have been told. Aragorn does not appear in either Tolkien’s The Hobbit nor the inspiration for Amazon Prime Video’s The Rings of Power, meaning his appearance would be forced, non-canonical, and a change to Tolkien’s vision. This is a view that Mortensen himself has explicitly expressed.

In an interview with The Guardian following the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Mortensen explained:

Before they started shooting…one of the producers did ask if I would be interested. I said, ‘You do know, don’t you, that Aragorn isn’t in The Hobbit? That there is a 60-year gap between the books?’

This commitment to the integrity of the source material explains why Mortensen hasn’t featured in another Lord of the Rings project. However, it also explains why he can come back in The Hunt For Gollum. Canonically, Aragorn is heavily involved in the story, seeking Gollum out and bringing him to Mirkwood. As a result, the movie represents the best chance of a Mortensen Lord of the Rings return, since it would make perfect sense for the story.

There’s Another Obstacle To Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn Return In The Hunt For Gollum

If, as is expected, The Hunt For Gollum follows the brief outline provided by Tolkien and revolves around Gandalf and Aragorn’s quest to apprehend Gollum before he can reveal the whereabouts of the Ring to Sauron’s minions, it’s essential that Mortensen’s character is involved in the story. However, while Aragorn will almost certainly feature, Mortensen himself may not return. The main reason for this would be the character’s age.

As a Dúnedain, Aragorn does not age like a normal human, meaning there are already some unusual aspects to his character. However, since the expected events of The Hunt For Gollum happen during The Fellowship of the Ring, Aragorn will need to look the same age as he does in the first film of the trilogy. Given that Mortensen is now 65, this will be impossible without some technological trickery. While this is a possibility, it remains uncertain whether producers would want to pursue this route when a recast would make sense, making Mortensen’s return to The Lord of the Rings less certain than it might seem.