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The end of 2027 will bring The Lord of the Rings back to the big screen with the franchise's seventh film, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Based on the Appendices from author J.R.R. Tolkein's book series, the new story will follow Aragorn (who was then known only as Strider, a Ranger of the North) as he goes on a quest to track down the terrifying creature Gollum to prevent him from revealing the secret of the One Ring to Sauron. The original story takes place in the 17-year gap between Bilbo Baggins' 111th birthday party and the beginning of Frodo Baggins' journey in The Fellowship of the Ring, but details on the movie adaptation's timeline have not been revealed.
While this movie will bring back multiple original Lord of the Rings stars, the cast also features a few newcomers, including Jamie Dornan in the role of Aragorn. He will take over the part from Viggo Mortensen, who played the role in the original The Lord of the Rings trilogy. This time, Aragorn will only be known as Strider, showing the early stages of his journey long before his ascension to the throne of Gondor and his early interactions with Gandalf the Grey. While Mortensen became iconic for his portrayal, it appears that Dornan may be set to deliver another memorable depiction of the fan-favorite hero.
Speaking with Variety, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum director Andy Serkis shared praise for Jamie Dornan in his portrayal of Aragorn. Asked if it was strange to see someone else playing one of cinema's most iconic roles, Serkis stated plainly that Dornan is "doing extremely well," calling him "fantastic" in the role.
Dornan is perhaps best known for his role as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and has other credits in Belfast, The Fall, and The Tourist. Now, he gets a chance to dive into one of the most iconic fantasy franchises in history, taking over a role that Mortensen turned into one of the most memorable characters of the 21st century.
Mortensen has already given his seal of approval for Dornan, as Serkis reflected on the original star being "thrilled" to see Dornan's take on the classic hero. Dornan will now team up with Lord of the Rings legends like Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf) and Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins), although his specific plotline as Aragorn is still being kept a mystery more than a year away from the movie's release.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will debut in theaters on Dec. 17, 2027.
