“I hope people welcome our story into that world,” said Dornan of the newest adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels

NEED TO KNOW

• Jamie Dornan shared his reaction to playing Aragorn in Andy Serkis’ upcoming film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum
• The actor “actually cried,” he recalled, upon booking the role previously played by Viggo Mortensen on the big screen
• The Hunt for Gollum will costar Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Kate Winslet and Serkis

Jamie Dornan had a tearful entry into Middle-earth. 

Upon booking the role of Strider, a.k.a. Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (in theaters Dec. 17, 2027), the actor, 44, “actually cried,” he told Entertainment Tonight with a laugh. 

“It’s like a dream,” he said of his casting in the new movie, inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The Hunt for Gollum will star and be directed by Andy Serkis, who played the titular role in previous big-screen adaptations. 

Aragorn, son of Arathorn, later crowned as Middle-earth’s King Elessar, was played by Viggo Mortensen in Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy for the big screen. 

“It’s an absolute dream and an honor to be entering that world in any capacity, let alone playing a character of such significance and such admiration, and that we all love,” said Dornan. “And I love what Viggo did with that role for those three films.”

The Northern Ireland native added that he was “incredibly honored” and “had a brilliant time,” wrapping filming mere weeks ago.

“It was an incredible experience, and I hope people welcome our story into that world because a lot of people care about it, and I really realize that,” he said with a laugh.

“Yeah, hopefully we’ve done a good job of it,” the Fifty Shades of Grey star concluded. 

Warner Bros. announced Dornan’s casting at CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas this past April.

The Hunt for Gollum will bring back Sir Ian McKellen as the wizard Gandalf, Elijah Wood as the Hobbit Frodo Baggins and Lee Pace as the Elven King Thranduil, in addition to Serkis, 62, as the treacherous Gollum.

Also joining the new installment set in Tolkien’s fantasy world are Anya Taylor-Joy, Leo Woodall, Lawrence Makoare and Kate Winslet. 

The new movie’s story takes place between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies of films; according to Empire, it will follow Aragorn and Gandalf on a quest to find Gollum.

Jackson, 65, the filmmaker who directed the previous trilogies, is producing the new movie alongside Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who wrote The Hunt for Gollum’s screenplay with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is in theaters Dec. 17, 2027.

Dornan’s other upcoming projects include the new Apple TV series 12 12 12 — which premieres Nov. 13 and costars Anthony Mackie — as well as the series The Twin and the comedy film Love Is Not the Answer.

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