Speculation is swirling about who might take over Viggo Mortensen’s role of Aragorn in the upcoming installment of the Lord of the Rings franchise — and fans have a lot to say about the rumored replacement.
After it was revealed that Mortensen would not be returning for Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, fans of the iconic series have wondered who director Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in the original trilogy, will recast for one of its leading roles.
Now, an unconfirmed rumor first published Saturday by Knight Edge Media claims that White Lotus actor Leo Woodall has taken on the role made famous by Mortensen. The studio did not immediately return The Independent’s request for comment on the rumor.
While the reports have not been verified, devoted fans raced to share their reactions to the potential casting on X.
“Let’s be VERY clear on this. There isn’t a soul on earth that can ‘replace’ Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn,” one person declared. Another noted, “Good luck replacing viggo mortensen in anything.”
Another criticized, “I have no idea if this is true, but I’m 99% confident this movie is going to be complete garbage no matter what. Can’t believe it’s even being made.”
Others appeared to doubt that Woodall, 29, would be able to portray the rugged character — which Mortensen began playing when he was already 41 years old — althoughThe Hunt for Gollum is set to be a prequel to the original film adaptations.
“His face looks like he drinks beer in a bar not ale in a tavern….,” one person on X wrote. Another agreed, writing, “He's not old enough to play Aragorn.”
However, some fans seemed more open to giving Woodall a chance with the legendary character.
“My honest opinion is if he has read the books and studied token and made a real effort to really understand why these characters are so loved then I think he will be great,” one wrote. Another shared: “I’m happy with this. If you’re gonna recast THE Aragorn, it’s gotta be a relatively unknown actor in the role.”
Woodall’s breakout role came with season two of HBO’s The White Lotus in 2022. He then went on to play Dexter Mayhew in the 2024 Netflix limited series One Day opposite Ambika Mod.
The Hunt for Gollum is expected to start shooting in New Zealand in May and is set to hit theaters December 2027.
