Peter Jackson Didn’t Want Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn—He Wanted This Actor Instead
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Peter Jackson Didn’t Want Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn—He Wanted This Actor Instead
When casting Aragorn for The Lord of the Rings, director Peter Jackson initially had someone else in mind—not Viggo Mortensen, but Stuart Townsend. Jackson was drawn to Townsend’s youthful energy and good looks, believing he fit the role. The actor was flown to New Zealand, fitted for a costume, and even filmed for an entire day as Aragorn.
However, things quickly fell apart. Townsend was reportedly unwilling to rehearse, learn horseback riding, or train for fight choreography—all essential skills for the role. The production soon found itself in a crisis, as it seemed too late to replace him.
Despite the time crunch, Peter Jackson reached out to three other actors: Jason Patric, Russell Crowe, and Viggo Mortensen. The studio felt Patric wasn’t famous enough, while Crowe simply wasn’t interested. This left Mortensen as their final choice.
Fortunately, Viggo Mortensen turned out to be the perfect Aragorn. He already had sword-fighting experience, was a skilled horse rider, and fully committed himself to the role. The final push that convinced him to take the part? His son, a fan of The Lord of the Rings books, urged him to do it.
Within days, Mortensen was on a plane to New Zealand, stepping into what would become one of the most iconic roles in modern cinema.
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Peter Jackson Didn’t Want Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn—He Wanted This Actor Instead
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