Russell Crowe recently shared why he passed up the chance to play Aragorn in Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. Although the role ultimately went to Viggo Mortensen, Crowe was among the actors considered for the iconic character.
In a fan Q&A for British GQ, Crowe addressed whether he regretted not taking the role. “I don’t actually,” he said. “I was a big Tolkien reader when I was a kid, so I was quite excited about the idea of ‘The Lord of the Rings.’”
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However, Crowe had reservations about the decision-making process. “I very much felt the studio was making that decision, not the film director,” he explained. “I talked to Peter Jackson over the phone, and he wasn’t saying the sort of things directors say when they really want you for a project. I got the sense that he already had someone else in mind and that my saying yes would actually get in his way.”
Crowe, both being from New Zealand, noted the subtlety in his conversation with Jackson. “I knew in his own way, without him saying anything negative, that he had another plan. So I just left it at that.”
The ‘Lord of the Rings’ franchise is set to expand with new Middle Earth projects, starting with a 2026 film tentatively titled ‘Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.’ This film will centre on the memorable character from the original trilogy, with Andy Serkis expected to reprise his role and also direct. Jackson will produce alongside Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh.
Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn, has also commented on the possibility of returning. “I don’t know exactly what the story is, I haven’t heard. Maybe I’ll hear about it eventually,” he told GQ. “I like playing that character. I learned a lot and enjoyed it immensely. I’d only do it if I was right for it in terms of my age and so forth. It would be silly otherwise.”