Viggo Mortensen Would've Returned as Aragorn for The Hobbit

Viggo Mortensen Would've Returned as Aragorn for The Hobbit

Surprisingly Viggo Mortensen was approached at one point by producers to gauge his interest in returning to Middle Earth, and even more surprisingly he said, "sure."

News
By nailbiter111 - Nov 22, 2011 12:11 PM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy
Source: movies.com



At one point when Guillermo del Toro was working on The Hobbit with Peter Jackson there was talk of making a film that would bridge The Hobbit with The Lord of the Rings. Those plans were abandoned, but when Peter Jackson was discussing the "bridge film" in 2006 with Ain't It Cool News he had a way of bringing Viggo back. He said, "You could even get into Gollum's sneaking into Mordor and Aragorn protecting The Shire. That's what we'd do. Love to work with Viggo again."

Movies.com: Has Peter Jackson asked you to return to Middle Earth in the Hobbit movie in any capacity?

Mortensen: At one point, the producers asked if I would do it and I said sure if Aragorn is supposed to be in the bridge story because he's not in The Hobbit. I would rather do it than see someone else do it, but I've never been asked and they're shooting the movie. I'm not in it unless it there is some last-minute plan they have, but I thought I would have heard of it by now. Orlando Bloom and Cate Blanchett shot something, but they're elves and don't change as rapidly. As you know, Aragorn is half elf and also lives a couple hundred years or more and he could be in a bridge, but I have to assume it isn't going to happen. That was an important period in my life and I will always be grateful that the trilogy was so successful and gave me a lot of new opportunities. I never would have gotten A History of Violence, no matter how much David wanted me, had it not been for my newfound notoriety.


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Hellsing
Hellsing - 11/22/2011, 12:28 PM
whats so surprising about him saying "sure" to the idea, the movie kinda threw him in to the lime light, making him a star. Honestly the whole "bridge story" is not needed but what the hell if they want to do it, then I'll guess they'll do it.
ScottPilgrim
ScottPilgrim - 11/22/2011, 12:39 PM
how would it fit???
yeoldeemoney
yeoldeemoney - 11/22/2011, 12:43 PM
@Scott That's what she said...sorry
Shaman
Shaman - 11/22/2011, 12:46 PM
The man was badass in G.I.Jane and even in The Prophecy as Satan. He's always had mad skills. Hell, i remember loving his character in Daylight as well, telling Stallone to shove it. So i'm sure he would have had great opportunities no matter what. Of course, LOTR was a great nitro boost, i gotta admit.
villain001
villain001 - 11/22/2011, 12:47 PM
most underrated actor in hollywood
PoPcornDude
PoPcornDude - 11/22/2011, 1:13 PM
Kudos to Vigo:
"if he is supposed to be there..."

respect the material.

@BmanHall:
you're right; he is the fúcking man !
MaddMonkk
MaddMonkk - 11/22/2011, 1:15 PM
What i think is cool is that he used LotR trilogy as a stepping stone for History of violence! Badass!
HelaGood
HelaGood - 11/22/2011, 1:15 PM
i HATE that Orlando is in it and Viggo is not.

and Zigggggy is correct... not elf at all. all man.
pintoman
pintoman - 11/22/2011, 1:19 PM
The timeline of the movies was condensed considerably from the books (events that took years in the books appeared to take days in the movie). Since the Hobbit is set about 50-60 years prior to Fellowship, Aragorn would be about 20-30 in the Hobbit.
Dedpool
Dedpool - 11/22/2011, 1:22 PM
Definitely should make a cameo in second film!!! He was by far my favorite character in the films.
Fogs
Fogs - 11/22/2011, 1:23 PM
Zigggggy - you're Right about Aragorn not being half elf...

...DIRECTLY.

Because the lineage of Númenorian Kings is composed mostly of descendants of Elros (Brother of Elrond) - Except Adûnakhor and those assholes who defied the Gods.

About Númenorians being the "Original line of humans", you're wrong. The original humans were regular ones (besides Andreth, the old woman, saying they were immortals in the beginning, that's just their original belief). Númenorians were those who received, as a gift for fighting Morgoth, the Island of Númenor.

They are a different branch of humans, even because they came back to Middle-earth and found the other humans, who lived shorter lives and had no knowledge of elvish arts.
Fogs
Fogs - 11/22/2011, 1:25 PM
***...they even came back to Middle-Earth...
Fogs
Fogs - 11/22/2011, 1:35 PM
Actually both sons of eärendil had the choice to remain elves or became humans.

Elros chose to be human, and Elrond, to be an elf. Elros offspring (numenorians) had longer life - aragorn being one of them, so it isn't wrong to consider himself part elf.

Elrond's offspring could choose to be human or elves too (that's why arwen could decide).
mctrinket
mctrinket - 11/22/2011, 1:41 PM
Aragorn is half elf? I did not know that.
Gmoney84
Gmoney84 - 11/22/2011, 1:50 PM
The line of Numenor was actually considered to be half-elven by the Sindarin elves with whom they had a great bond which is why "The Faithful" i.e. Elendil, Isildur and Anarion spoke Sindarin and some Quenya.

And there is your Tolkien history lesson for the day!
Ceejay
Ceejay - 11/22/2011, 2:00 PM
Aragorn is part elf because he descended form Elros who was half elf and chose to be human unlike his brother Elrond. Because of his elfish roots Elros lived for 500 years and all his descendants who rules Numenour after him also had the gift of extended life beyond natural human span. They simply are not immortal like the elfs!
Ceejay
Ceejay - 11/22/2011, 2:15 PM
@ncreb - Aragorn was alive at this time but he had no knowledge of his heritage until another ten years after the Hobbit takes place nor had he met Gandalf till another 5 years after that! He in hiding at Rivendell with Elrod under the name 'Estel' and only 10 years old when the Hobbit takes place! Only Legolas and Gadriel were alive at the time the Hobbit takes place to make credible cameo's. Legolas especially since his Father and his home is part of the story!
GrayFox1025
GrayFox1025 - 11/22/2011, 2:24 PM
In The Fellowship Book, Gandalf talks to Frodo about how he and Aragorn teamed up in hunting Gollum. That could easily have been put into a bridge movie.

In Fellowship/Hobbit Book time (much different from movie time): The Hobbit takes place 60 years before Frodo gets the ring and 77 years before Frodo begins his quest (Bilbo is 50 in Hobbit, 111 when he leaves the Shire, Frodo is 33 when Bilbo leaves and is 50 once he begins his quest to destroy the ring)

In The Fellowship Aragorn is 87 and therefore would be 10 years old during the events of The Hobbit.

ManofSteel23
ManofSteel23 - 11/22/2011, 2:29 PM
brilliant actor nuff said
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 11/22/2011, 3:43 PM
The Rangers had a presence in the Hobbit, if I remember correctly, so it wouldn't be a huge stretch to work him in some way. That being said, I am cool with him not being in it Class act and Aragorn is perhaps my favorite film character of all time.
JustinMSalvato
JustinMSalvato - 11/22/2011, 4:49 PM
Did I read this wrong?

Are you reporting on something that is 5 years old and acting like its news..?

I must have read this wrong.
Spectre94
Spectre94 - 11/22/2011, 5:41 PM
Just watched the trilogy with my friends yesterday. Love those movies and Viggo Mortensen was awesome as Aragorn
GreendaleHumanBeing
GreendaleHumanBeing - 11/22/2011, 5:45 PM
@bropus the Scouring of the Shire is an awesome part of the book. I loved the Battle of Hobbiton but it would have been overkill for a cinematic adaptation. Most people can not sit through a five hour film (I could however). Jackson's work is the best anyone could do to translate the Tolkein's literary classic to the silver screen.

Also, Clive Owen is an awful choice and quite frankly an overrated actor. I hope you did not pick him solely because of his role in that awful King Arthur movie.
Alvahnomicron
Alvahnomicron - 11/22/2011, 7:31 PM
This is the greatest debate I've ever been witness to. Please allow me to chime in...

@Bropus: I believe that when Galadriel has Frodo look into the mirror what he sees as a possible future, should he fail, is meant to reference the scouring of the Shire, but, it's just my opinion.

Also, I need someone to help me out, here. Anybody know why PJ completely omitted Tom Bombadil?
GreendaleHumanBeing
GreendaleHumanBeing - 11/22/2011, 8:50 PM
@Alvahomicron I'm not sure exactly why but if I had to guess. The Old Forest chapter derails the plot of the book. It is unnecessary because most of those elements are repeated in Fangorn Forest.
daschysta
daschysta - 11/22/2011, 9:51 PM
@ziggggyyy

Actually numenoreans do have elfish blood. Elros is the brother of elrond, and the first king of numenor. He chose mortality, while elrond chose immortality, but the blood of the elves through their mother's side (elwing i believe) runs in the royal family of Numenor. So while aragorn isn't "half elf" he has elvish blood and is a distant relative of elrond and arwen undomiel.
AC1
AC1 - 11/23/2011, 3:03 AM
@Ceejay how is he 10 years old? He's 87 in the LOTR, and the Hobbit is set roughly 50 years earlier, so he'd be about 37 during the Hobbit, not 10

@Alvahomicron I think you're right about Galadriel and Frodo, although the scouring of the Shire is included in the extended films I think. As for Tom Bombadil, I think Jackson just wanted to reduce the number of characters in the film, to make it more manageable. Plus, I think the majority of the scenes he was supposed to be in were written out of the film anyway.
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