THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM Is Actively Casting a Younger Aragorn

Middle-earth is officially stirring again. With cameras set to roll this summer, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is moving into one of its most important phases. Casting… and all eyes are now on the search for a new Aragorn.

This project first came into focus back in 2024, marking the first Middle-earth feature since The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies hit theaters in 2014. The story is set before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring.

Andy Serkis is directing the film while also stepping back into performance capture to play Gollum. The screenplay comes from Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, joined by Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou, who recently worked on The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

Peter Jackson is producing, and the long-term goal is clear. This movie is meant to open the door to a new run of theatrical stories based on the work of J. R. R. Tolkien.

So far, only Serkis, Sir Ian McKellen, and Elijah Wood are officially confirmed to return, with McKellen once again playing Gandalf the Grey and Elijah Wood as Frodo. Aragorn also has a big role in the story, but Viggo Mortensen will not be reprise it.

According to @theoneringnet, auditions are already happening. With Mortensen now 67, the production is looking for a younger actor to take on the role of the future King of Gondor. The site reports that the process is well underway, with a strong emphasis on in-person casting.

"The conversations I had over the weekend were with real people—not just anonymous names on the internet."

"Based on those conversations, auditions for Aragorn are taking place this week in London," they continue. "Aragorn is being recast, with auditions happening both in London and New Zealand."

Interestingly, the search isn’t limited to familiar faces. While established actors are being considered, Warner Bros. and Serkis are also open to unknown talent. If you’ve been seeing fan casts float around online, it might be time to temper expectations.

"I’ve been told by people close to casting that Ben Barnes and Sebastian Stan are considered too old for the vision of Aragorn. The film takes place in the 20 years prior to The Fellowship of the Ring, acting as a bridge between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.”

Casting Aragorn is no small task, and it likely won’t be rushed. Whoever lands the role may end up carrying the character across multiple future Middle-earth films, making this decision one of the most important the studio will make.

McKellen recently offered a brief but exciting update on the project’s progress, confirming that things are moving fast.

"It's going to start filming in May. It's going to be directed by Gollum, and it's all about Gollum. But I'll tell you two secrets about the casting. There's a character in the movie called Frodo and another character called Gandalf, and apart from that, my lips are sealed."

For now, that’s as much as we’re getting. The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2027.