It’s an exciting time to be a Lord of the Rings fan! Between The Rings Of Power Season 2 taking us back to Middle-earth this summer and Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis making a LOTR movie from the fantasy world, there’s a lot to look forward to. Considering how classic the original trilogy has become, you can’t blame fans for wanting to see actors like Viggo Mortensen back in their beloved roles.
While we don’t know if Mortensen will return as Aragorn in future movies, he did recently wield the power of his character’s sword, Andúril, for his new movie, The Dead Don’t Hurt. It’s a sweet Lord of the Rings connection as fans hope for more of the great warrior.
The Story Behind Viggo Mortensen Bringing Andúril Back In Latest Movie
After production wrapped on his final Lord of the Rings movie, Return of the King, Viggo Mortensen kept Andúril for safekeeping. When he starred and directed his latest movie, a Western called The Dead Don’t Hurt, he ended up reaching for the sword to complete a fantasy sequence within it. As he said:
We had everything for this sequence with a knight. Everything was right, and then I said, well, we should have a sword. And I did look and there were some good ones and I thought, well, it might be kind of good to use [Aragorn's sword] that I had because it's really good.
While speaking to GQ, Mortensen also spoke to the process behind him being allowed to bring Andúril in front of the camera for the first time in over 20 years. As the actor continued:
So I did ask Peter Jackson if he'd be all right with it, and he said, ‘Well, is it very important in the story?’ I said, no, it's not, actually. You hardly notice it, but somebody will, probably. He said it was okay with him but that I should ask the movie company. So I contacted them and they were fine with it. They realised it wasn't essential, it wasn't going to draw a lot of attention to itself. And they were very nice about it, and they gave us permission. That's why we did it, just because it seemed right. It was kind of a last-minute accident.
Hey, when one already has the Flame of the West in one’s possession, how can you not use it? The Dead Don’t Hurt, which is now playing in theaters, was also written and produced by Mortensen. Oh, and he composed the score! It was made independently, premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, and acquired by Shout! Studios earlier this year.
Mortensen's Latest Thoughts On Playing Aragorn Again
Over the years, Viggo Mortensen has certainly made a ton of movies that have proven he’s more than Aragorn, but that hasn’t stopped fans from wanting to see him take up the role again. Plus, Mortensen had a reputation of being endearing on multiple occasions on the Lord of the Rings films' sets and sharing his honest thoughts on the trilogy.
When the actor was asked about whether he’d be up for reprising his role for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which will be directed by Andy Serkis and produced by Peter Jackson, here’s what he shared:
I don't know exactly what the story is, I haven't heard. Maybe I'll hear about it eventually. I like playing that character. I learned a lot playing the character. I enjoyed it a lot. I would only do it if I was right for it in terms of, you know, the age I am now and so forth. I would only do it if I was right for the character. It would be silly to do it otherwise.
His answer shows a real reverence for his character. It sounds like he would be open to it, but wouldn’t take the opportunity lightly. Now to see what the rest of the Lord of the Rings cast feels about returning to Middle-Earth!
