'Aragorn Will Always Be Viggo,' Says Jamie Dornan Ahead of His Turn as the Iconic Character in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

Jamie Dornan will play a younger Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, but he’s aware of the magnitude of his role, and doesn’t see his take on the character as a replacement for Viggo Mortensen.

"There's pressure when you're trying to follow in those footsteps," Dornan told ScreenRant. "I've been asked to play a super-iconic role, and I'll do my best.

“But for me, Aragorn will always be just Viggo. His performance is one of my all-time favorites, and I feel honored to try to recapture at least some of the energy he originally brought to the character. There's no part of me that's trying to outdo him."

Northern Ireland actor Dornan is best known for his leading role in Fifty Shades of Grey. Viggo Mortensen has already gone on record to back the casting choice, saying he was “thrilled.”

The Hunt for Gollum takes place between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings …