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Jamie Dornan on Playing Aragorn in The Hunt for Gollum: 'There's Pressure'
Jamie Dornan, who plays Aragorn in the new Lord of the Rings film The Hunt for Gollum, told L'Officiel that inheriting the role comes with pressure. He also said he isn't trying to outdo Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn before him.
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The facts
Jamie Dornan Takes Over as Aragorn
Jamie Dornan is set to play Aragorn in the film The Hunt for Gollum.
Aragorn is one of the main characters in The Lord of the Rings series, and he is also known by the name Strider.
Sources: variety.com, deadline.com
Dornan Admits 'There's Pressure'
In an interview with the fashion magazine L'Officiel, Dornan said there is pressure in taking over the role of Aragorn.
He also said he isn't trying to outdo Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn in the past.
Sources: variety.com, deadline.com
Andy Serkis Directs; Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood Return
Andy Serkis is directing The Hunt for Gollum.
It has also been confirmed that Ian McKellen will return as Gandalf and Elijah Wood will return as Frodo.
Sources: variety.com, deadline.com
Analysis
Why the Pressure Is Real
The pressure Dornan describes is probably not just about headlining a big franchise. Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy left a strong impression on many moviegoers, so a new actor in the same role will inevitably be compared with him.
Our view is that Dornan's statement that he isn't trying to outdo Mortensen shows he understands the comparison is unavoidable and intends to approach the role on his own terms. Rather than copying a famous performance, he appears to be building an Aragorn for a new film.
Sources: variety.com, deadline.com
What The Hunt for Gollum Is Going For
The film is a new movie set in the world of The Lord of the Rings. Director Andy Serkis also played Gollum in the trilogy, and with a story centered on Gollum, ties to the source material and the earlier films are likely to matter.
The return of original cast members like Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood should reassure fans, while Dornan, as the newcomer, will be expected to meet the expectations of longtime viewers. How the film balances the old and the new will likely shape how it is received.
Sources: variety.com, deadline.com
What to Watch Next
Interest is likely to grow as footage and trailers reveal what kind of Aragorn Dornan actually plays. Talk of how he differs from Mortensen's version seems all but certain.
Whether the film becomes a new starting point for the Lord of the Rings series or stands alone will also affect how Dornan's role is positioned. Plans for sequels or related projects are worth watching.
Sources: variety.com, deadline.com
When a Fantasy Franchise Changes Faces
Recasting a role in a film series is nothing unusual. It still draws attention because central roles like Aragorn tend to stay in viewers' memories, and characters beloved over many years are often remembered together with the actor who played them.
Dornan is taking on a role that will be built on top of those memories. The goal isn't to erase the earlier films but to make a new film work within the same world. In fantasy epics, everything from costumes and speech to posture is judged for whether it feels right, so the burden on an actor tends to be heavier than on an ordinary production.
What Returning Cast Members Signal
At the same time, returning cast members mean the newcomer is acting within the atmosphere of the past. With co-stars continuing in the same roles, comparisons tend to focus on whoever is new. The pressure Dornan describes probably has something to do with that atmosphere on set as well.
What Saying 'I'm Not Trying to Outdo Him' Means
For an actor to say publicly that he isn't trying to outdo a predecessor is a statement that requires care. In a role carrying big expectations, bold words tend to get attention, and he is deliberately avoiding them. Our view is that he wants to focus on his own work without stoking comparisons.
That stance is also easy for fans of the earlier films to accept, because showing that he isn't dismissing the previous performance can head off hostility before the film is even seen. As an explanation of how he approaches the role, it manages to be both safe and sincere.
Five story prompts by genre, each with a hook and a twist.
Questions
- What role does Jamie Dornan play?
- He plays Aragorn in the film The Hunt for Gollum. Aragorn is also known as Strider.
- What does Dornan say about Viggo Mortensen?
- He says he isn't trying to outdo Viggo Mortensen.
- Who is directing?
- Andy Serkis is directing.
- Are other cast members returning?
- Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf and Elijah Wood returns as Frodo.
Sources
- Jamie Dornan Says There’s ‘Pressure’ to Taking Over Aragorn Role in ‘Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum’: I’m Not ‘Trying to Outdo’ Viggo Mortensen (variety.com)
- Jamie Dornan On “Pressure” Of Taking Over Aragorn Role In ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’, Not “Trying To Outdo” Viggo Mortensen (deadline.com)