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Actor Jamie Dornan has described his emotional reaction to being cast as Aragorn, also known as Strider, in the upcoming film “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.”
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the “Fifty Shades of Grey” star said, “I cried. I actually cried.” He called the casting a dream and an honor, saying it is a privilege to enter the franchise in any capacity, let alone as a character of such significance.
Dornan takes over a role originated by Viggo Mortensen in the three earlier films, and he said fans of the franchise love what Mortensen did with the part.
Dornan, who also stars in “The Tourist,” said filming ended about three weeks ago. He described the shoot as an incredible experience and said he had a brilliant time.
He added that he hopes audiences welcome the new story into the franchise, noting that many people care about it and that he understands this.
In an interview with L’Officiel, Dornan said he felt pressure in following Mortensen. He called Mortensen’s performance one of his all-time favorites and said he feels honored to try to recapture at least some of the energy the actor brought to the character. Dornan said he is not trying to outdo his predecessor.
Andy Serkis directs the film and reprises his role as Gollum. The cast also includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Leo Woodall, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen and Lee Pace.
Earlier this year, Serkis told the BBC the project sits between “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogies, and between the books.
He described it as “a deep dive into the psychology and history of Gollum” before the character became Gollum.
Serkis said the story also addresses a question from Gandalf about the possible origin of the ring Bilbo Baggins owns, and that the hunt unfolds in two different dimensions. He did not share further details.
“The Hunt for Gollum” is scheduled to open in theaters Dec. 17, 2027.
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