Lord of the Rings fans blast ‘disrespect’ of recasting major character with rom-com heartthrob

Lord of the Ringsfans are making their fury known following confirmation that a huge character is set to be recast.

Currently slated for release in December 2027, The Hunt for Gollum will transport cinemagoersback to J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earthto explore an untold chapter.

Running parallel to The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), it will follow Gandalf and Aragorn’s hunt for Gollum after he escaped from Mordor.

While this isn’t a new storyline as such, the events took place mostly off-screen in the original movies.

The upcoming fantasy flick will welcome backAndy Serkisas both director and, of course,to play Gollum, whileSir Ian McKellenwill reprise his legendary role of Gandalf.

An actor who won’t be back, however, isViggo Mortensen, whose expert portrayal of protagonist Aragorn in the trilogy scored him international recognition and numerous awards.

So, when it was revealed that Aragorn will be played by another star for the next outing, it’d be an understatement to say devout fans had strong opinions.

Speaking in a new interview with ScreenRant, Serkis addressed the casting: ‘I don’t know what’s out there at the moment, but I know there’s a lot of speculation, but let’s just say we are recasting the role, and we are on the way to finding someone.’

There’s no denying that Mortensen, 67, is synonymous with the warrior; hence, long-time viewers are fearing the worst when it comes to choosing who will step into his shoes.

This comes despite the actor himself saying in 2024 that itwould be ‘silly’ to play Aragorn againif he weren’t ‘right’ for it, due to his age.

Taking to X, @DrealMb declared Mortensen as ‘unforgettable’ in the part, demanding only ‘the best’ to succeed him.

‘Nobody can top Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn,’ stated @MadsPosting, with @ReyClipz saying that while it ‘makes sense’ for him to be recast, since the film is essentially a prequel and Mortensen is in his late sixties, ‘they really just should have left [it] alone’.

Plenty are echoing that view, with @TheManlet_King begging, ‘Please just don’t make this’, and @PalmyrPar adding: ‘There’s no purpose in it at this point’.

‘this is the franchise EVERYONE knows you should not touch, and not only are you going to do that, but you’re also gonna f**k with it’s most beloved character?? you guys are ASKING for backlash’, raged @toofarST.

Further Aragorn casting details are yet to be released – but did one LOTR star just let a secret slip?

Appearing on Josh Horowitz’spodcast,Elijah Wood,who played hobbit Frodo Baggins, was happy to entertain the idea of rom-com heartthrobLeo Woodalltaking on the role.

‘It’s a tough act to follow for someone to play Aragorn, but Leo Woodall, if that’s true…’, Horowitz began.

‘That is true,’ Wood responded, although he started laughing immediately after, making it unclear whether he was confirming Woodall’s hiring, or agreeing that it is, indeed, difficult for anyone to play the part after Mortensen.

A clip of the moment soon surfaced onsocial media, with fans undeniably angry at even the mere conjecture.

@getrichordietri said it would be ‘disrespectful’ to cast Woodall, 29, best known forThe White Lotus,Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, and most recently,Netflix’s Vladimir.

Others branded it a ‘downgrade’, with @LilDivmond saying their interest has now ‘dropped significantly’.

Although it wasn’t all negativity, as @julian_lyngaas noted Woodall does ‘look like’ the original star, and @Robbiepierce rejoiced: ‘Finally giving us a hot Aragorn, prayer is real y’all’.

It was also claimed that Woodall is simply ‘too pretty’ to play the ranger, which we’re sure is a compliment in some way.

News of Aragorn’s recasting follows the announcement ofKate Winsletjoining the cast.

The 50-year-oldTitanicactress is set to play a ‘female lead’, but further details are being kept under lock and key.

Deadlinereported that Serkis and Peter Jackson spent most of last year coaxing Winslet to agree to the film, which she will film in New Zealand from May to October.

Along with Serkis, 61, and Sir Ian, 86, Wood, 45, has also strongly hinted that he’ll be back, as he doesn’t want another actor playing Frodo.

In a new interview withThe Timesthis month, Wood was directly asked if he would appear in the upcoming Warner Bros. project, to which he smiled in response.

‘It hasn’t been officially announced, but at a convention last August, Ian sort oflet the cat out of the bag,’ he began.

‘So there is a good chance. I’m not able to officially say anything until it’s announced, but I will say I’m thrilled with the prospect of another film.

‘It’s always a little nerve-racking when people talk about new movies for a world like Middle-earth. Everyone gets a little protective and hopes it retains its level of integrity, but this story is fun, thrilling.

‘There is a genuine feeling of getting the band back together. I’m just excited.’

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