Jamie Dornan and Leo Woodall join the cast of The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum as they lead an A-list packed line-up alongside Kate Winslet

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Jamie Dornan and Leo Woodall have joined the cast of the upcoming ‘Lord of the Rings’ spin-off, which focuses on Gollum’s story.

Jamie Dornan, age 43, will portray the character Strider, who is also known as Aragorn, a popular figure with fans. Leo Woodall will play a character named Halvard.

Andy Serkis will reprise his role as Gollum, and Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen are returning as Frodo and Gandalf, respectively. Lee Pace will also be back as Thranduil.

Kate Winslet, a famous actress, is now confirmed to be part of the movie, playing the character Marigol. Andy Serkis is directing the film.

Following months of rumors, the actress known for her role in Titanic and recently in Avatar: Fire and Ash, is set to star in her most significant fantasy role to date.

As a storyteller, I’ve been diving deep into the world between The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, and I’ve discovered a fascinating character named Marigol. She’s absolutely key to understanding what happened during those years – a real pivotal figure in bridging the gap between those two iconic adventures!

At CinemaCon, Warner Bros. revealed that Jamie Dornan will play the role of the leader of the Northern Dúnedain Rangers, a character in his eighties.

As a longtime fan of the series, I remember the buzz when Viggo Mortensen, who brilliantly brought Aragorn to life, announced he wouldn’t be reprising the role. Honestly, the fanbase was not happy – there was a real outcry! It was a tough pill to swallow for many of us who loved his portrayal of the character.

Many fans may have forgotten that Viggo Mortensen last portrayed Strider 23 years ago, and he’s now 67 years old.

Interestingly, the Irish actor is currently the same age Viggo Mortensen was when he took over the role of the skilled tracker and fighter in ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ back in 2001.

Viggo Mortensen has expressed interest in returning as Strider, telling British GQ in 2024 that he enjoyed the role and found it rewarding. He said he liked playing the character and learned a great deal from the experience.

I’d only consider taking on the role if it felt like a good fit for me now, considering my current age and experience. It wouldn’t make sense to do it if I wasn’t right for the part.

Jamie Dornan is widely recognized for his work in several popular projects, including the films Belfast and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, the Fifty Shades trilogy, and the TV series The Fall and Once Upon a Time. He also appeared in the film Marie Antoinette.

Instead of playing Aragorn as some speculated, Woodall will portray Halvard, a Dúnedain ranger. Halvard joins Strider and Gandalf on a quest to capture Gollum in a story that takes place between the events of The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring.

The director noted that a defining characteristic of the Middle-earth films, throughout both trilogies, has been the consistently strong cast assembled for every part.

Continuing the style of previous works, I’m thrilled to share that some of Middle-earth’s most popular actors are returning, and we’re also welcoming some fantastic new talent to the world of Tolkien.

Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, the screenwriters behind The Lord of the Rings, collaborated with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou to write the screenplay for The Hunt for Gollum.

Filming is set to begin later this year in Wellington, New Zealand.

Instagram users had a varied response to the casting of Dornan, with one user, @mina_erickson, jokingly comparing him to Gollum from ‘Lord of the Rings’.

Instagram user @charliethomason made a joke referencing the famous ‘Titanic’ scene, imagining Kate Winslet’s character saying to Jamie Dornan in ‘Lord of the Rings’: ‘Draw me like one of your Elven women from Rivendell.’

Instagram artist @saramorelloart expressed her surprise – with six shocked face emojis and a heart-eye emoji – at the suggestion that Jamie Dornan could play Aragorn.

‘From a looks wise Jamie is fantastic for Aragorn,’ Instagram user @tristan_fredrick wrote.

Instagram user @breecrossroads expressed enthusiastic excitement in a comment, writing ‘JAMIE DORNAN. HELL YEAH. AND LEEEEE PACE! AGGHHHHHHH.’

One Instagram user, @iamyeeezus, pointed out that Jamie Dornan is getting another opportunity in the entertainment industry, calling it a significant one.

Instagram user @tragick07 admitted it would be hard to imagine anyone but Viggo Mortensen as Strider, but expressed hope the new actor would do a good job with the role.

Some Lord of the Rings fans strongly disapproved of the casting choice, with one Instagram user, @elijasaurus_rex, famously declaring, ‘If it’s not Viggo Mortensen, it’s not Aragorn!’

Instagram user @wolfbornspirit strongly agreed, stating, ‘Absolutely not – not without Viggo Mortensen. He is, was, and always will be Aragorn.’

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2026-04-15 17:49