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Last December, news broke that "The Lord of the Rings" spin-off film "The Hunt for Gollum" would recast the role of Aragorn, with Viggo Mortensen, who played the King of Men in the original "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, not returning. Recently, acclaimed entertainment journalist Daniel Richtman further reported that Leo Woodall, who has recently gained prominence for his work including roles in "Vladimir" and the upcoming "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy," is reportedly in talks to take on the role of the new Aragorn.
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Richtman's report did not explicitly state that Woodall was in talks for Aragorn, only mentioning that Woodall was indeed in discussions for a major male role in "The Hunt for Gollum." However, Richtman speculated it could be Aragorn, as the production has been seeking a younger actor to succeed Mortensen. Richtman also indicated that Anya Taylor-Joy is in talks to join "The Hunt for Gollum" in an undisclosed role. Following this news, most media outlets and netizens have speculated that, given her ethereal appearance, she would likely portray an Elven character.
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The film will be directed by and star Andy Serkis as Gollum, and is slated for release on December 17, 2027. Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson (director of the previous six films), and Jackson's screenwriter wife Fran Walsh are all returning as producers. Walsh, Boyens, Boyens' daughter Phoebe Gittins, and Gittins' writing partner Arty Papageorgiou co-wrote the screenplay. Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Elijah Wood as Frodo have already been confirmed to return.
The story of "The Hunt for Gollum" is set between Bilbo Baggins' birthday party in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" and the Fellowship's arrival at the Mines of Moria. It opens with Gandalf tasking Aragorn to find Gollum, as Gandalf fears Gollum might reveal information about the One Ring's whereabouts to Sauron.