On Tuesday, Warner Bros. unveiled the actor set to take on the role of Strider, also known as Aragorn, in the eagerly awaited prequel, “Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.” This announcement, made at CinemaCon, revealed that the film will debut in theaters on December 17, 2027.

Stepping into the legendary boots of the character is Jamie Dornan, who previously showcased a similar rugged look in Channel 4’s series “New Worlds.” Dornan will portray the 80-something leader of the Northern Dúnedain Rangers, who eventually ascends to the throne as King Elessar Telcontar.

Longtime fans of the franchise may recall that it has been 23 years since Viggo Mortensen, now 67, last embodied the role of Strider. Mortensen, a three-time Academy Award nominee, originally brought the iconic character to life in the early 2000s.

At age 43, the charismatic Irish actor Dornan shares the same age Mortensen was when he took over from Stuart Townsend as the skilled tracker and warrior for “The Fellowship of the Ring” back in 2001.

Mortensen, the Danish-American actor known for his distinctive silver locks, had expressed interest in returning to the role of Strider. In a 2024 interview with British GQ, he shared, “I like playing that character. I learned a lot playing the character. I enjoyed it a lot.”

However, Mortensen added that he would only reprise the role if it suited his current age and circumstances, emphasizing, “I would only do it if I was right for the character. It would be silly to do it otherwise.”

On Tuesday, Warner Bros. announced at CinemaCon who will be replacing Viggo Mortensen as Strider (aka Aragorn) in the highly-anticipated prequel, Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, hitting theaters December 17, 2027

Dornan is best known for his roles in Belfast (2021), Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021), the Fifty Shades trilogy (2015–2018), The Fall (2013–2016), Once Upon a Time (2011–2013) and Marie Antoinette (2006).

Leo Woodall, who was rumored to takeover Aragorn, will actually be playing Dúnedain ranger Halvard, who joins Strider and the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) on their mission to capture Gollum in a tale set between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring.

Andy Serkis will direct and reprise his role as tragic ring bearer Gollum/Sméagol while the youthful Elijah Wood returns as hobbit Frodo Baggins, Lee Pace is back as elven King Thranduil and Kate Winslet plays the mysterious Marigol.

‘Across two trilogies, a mark of a Middle-earth film, has always been the formidable array of talent brought to bear in every role,’ the 61-year-old filmmaker said in a statement.

‘The Hunt for Gollum continues in that tradition, and I am delighted to announce the return of two of Middle-earth’s most beloved performers, alongside some exceptionally talented new additions to Tolkien’s world.’

The Lord of the Rings screenwriters Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh penned The Hunt for Gollum script with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou.

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

The fan reaction to Dornan’s casting was mixed on Instagram, with user @mina_erickson commenting: ’50 shades of Gollum.’

And Instagram user @charliethomason joked: ‘Kate Winslet to Jamie Dornan in LOTR: “draw me like one of your Rivendell girls.”‘

Jamie Dornan – who had a similar look in the Channel 4 series New Worlds – was selected to portray the 80-something-year-old chief of the Northern Dúnedain Rangers, who’s eventually crowned King Elessar Telcontar

Fans might not recall that the last time the three-time Oscar nominee played the part of Strider was 23 years ago and he’s now 67 (pictured November 15)

At 43, the hunky Irishman is the exact same age Mortensen was when he replaced Stuart Townsend as the expert tracker and warrior in The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001 (pictured March 27)

The Danish-American silver fox had been open to reprising the role of Strider, telling British GQ in 2024: ‘I enjoyed it a lot. I would only do it if I was right for it in terms of, you know, the age I am now and so forth. I would only do it if I was right for the character. It would be silly to do it otherwise’ (pictured August 24)

Dornan is best known for his roles in Belfast, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, the Fifty Shades trilogy (pictured in 2018), The Fall, Once Upon a Time and Marie Antoinette

Leo Woodall (pictured February 23), who was rumored to takeover Aragorn, will play Dúnedain ranger Halvard, who joins Strider and the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) on their mission to capture Gollum in a tale set between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring

Andy Serkis will direct and reprise his role as tragic ring bearer Gollum/Sméagol while the youthful Elijah Woods returns as hobbit Frodo Baggins, Lee Pace is back as elven King Thranduil and Kate Winslet plays the mysterious Marigol

The 61-year-old filmmaker said in a statement: ‘I am delighted to announce the return of two of Middle-earth’s most beloved performers, alongside some exceptionally talented new additions to Tolkien’s world’

Instagram user @saramorelloart was pleased, posting six shocked emojis and one heart-eye emoji: ‘Jamie Dornan is Aragorn?’

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

Instagram user @breecrossroads was so excited she commented in all caps: ‘JAMIE DORNAN. HELL YEAH. AND LEEEEE PACE! AGGHHHHHHH.’

‘Jamie Dornan, you just being given a second chance in this industry,’ Instagram user @iamyeeezus cautioned. ‘And what a chance.’

Instagram user @tragick07 was open to the idea, commenting: ‘Seeing someone else as Strider other than Viggo still breaks my heart, but hope the actor does him justice.’

While some LOTR fans were not having it like Instagram user @elijasaurus_rex who stated: ‘If it ain’t Viggo, it AIN’T ARAGORN.’

Instagram user @wolfbornspirit agreed, commenting: ‘No. Not without Viggo. He was, is and always will be Aragorn.’

The fan reaction to Dornan’s casting was mixed on Instagram, with user @mina_erickson commenting: ’50 shades of Gollum’

And Instagram user @charliethomason joked: ‘Kate Winslet to Jamie Dornan in LOTR: “draw me like one of your Rivendell girls”‘

Instagram user @saramorelloart was pleased, posting six shocked emojis and one heart-eye emoji: ‘Jamie Dornan is Aragorn?’

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

Instagram user @breecrossroads was so excited she commented in all caps: ‘JAMIE DORNAN. HELL YEAH. AND LEEEEE PACE! AGGHHHHHHH’

‘Jamie Dornan, you just being given a second chance in this industry,’ Instagram user @iamyeeezus cautioned. ‘And what a chance’

Instagram user @tragick07 was open to the idea, commenting: ‘Seeing someone else as Strider other than Viggo still breaks my heart, but hope the actor does him justice’

While some LOTR fans were not having it like Instagram user @elijasaurus_rex who stated: ‘If it ain’t Viggo, it AIN’T ARAGORN’

Instagram user @wolfbornspirit agreed, commenting: ‘No. Not without Viggo. He was, is and always will be Aragorn’

Audiences can next catch Mortensen – who’s fluent in four languages – in Porto Rico, Residente’s biopic on José Maldonado Román which stars Bad Bunny, Javier Bardem and Edward Norton.

Dornan’s other upcoming projects include The Undertow, Love Is Not the Answer, The Turning Door, The Worst and 12, 12, 12.

On April 27, the Golden Globe nominee and his wife, composer Amelia Warner, will celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary and they’re proud parents of three daughters – Dulcie, 12, Elva, 10, and Alberta, seven.