Lord of the Rings director hails Viggo Mortensen’s replacement as fantastic

So, we've got a fresh scrap of Middle-earth news for anyone still keeping track of who's got a sword or a pair of hairy feet these days. This time, it's The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum making the headlines—yes, the new film that Warner Bros. is hoping will keep everyone obsessed with rings, goblins, and whatever Gollum's got crawling up his sleeve next.

The director at the helm, Andy Serkis (who, let's not forget, is Gollum himself), has been chatting with Variety about what it's like seeing someone else chuck on the leathers and boots of Aragorn—the iconic ranger famously played by Viggo Mortensen in Peter Jackson's films.

The New Guy in the Boots

The big news? Jamie Dornan, yes, him from The Fall and Fifty Shades of Grey (try not to wince), is taking on the role of Aragorn. If you're thinking that's a surprising bit of casting, you're definitely not alone.

Serkis Weighs In

When pressed about the idea of passing on one of cinema's greatest fantasy swords, Serkis actually seemed pretty chuffed about what Dornan's bringing to the table.

Dornan is 'doing extremely well,' and Serkis went so far as to call him 'fantastic' in the role.

That's quite the endorsement, especially considering it's coming from a man who's probably spent more time squatting by New Zealand rivers than most method actors ever will.

What Comes Next?

• The project is still firmly in the promotional stage—Warner Bros. hasn't dropped anything major like a proper trailer yet.
• All eyes are now on Dornan to see just how he handles stepping into the well-worn travelling cloak of Strider. No pressure.
• Serkis is both directing and reprising his role as Gollum, which is a neat bit of symmetry for fans who like a returning face or two.

That's the main thrust of it: Andy Serkis is publicly backing Jamie Dornan's turn as Aragorn, and now it's a waiting game to see what the new film does with Tolkien's world.