Jamie Dornan Cast in Viggo Mortensen's Previous Role in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

Dornan confirmed as Strider in today's new cast announcement.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 5:20am

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An extreme close-up of weathered, textured leather and metal, conceptually representing the gritty, high-fantasy world of the Lord of the Rings universe.The casting of a new lead actor for the iconic role of Strider in the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel film signals a shift in the beloved fantasy franchise's narrative.Las Vegas Today

After re-confirming earlier this month that Viggo Mortensen would not be returning to his old role in The Lord of the Rings series for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, Warner Bros. and New Line have confirmed the character of Strider will be played by Jamie Dornan (The Fall, the Fifty Shades series).

Why it matters

The announcement of Dornan's casting in the iconic role of Strider, previously played by Viggo Mortensen, is a significant development for the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel film The Hunt for Gollum. This casting choice will shape the character's portrayal and impact the overall narrative of the film as it expands the beloved fantasy franchise.

The details

Dornan is joined by Leo Woodall (White Lotus, One Day), who will play a fellow Dúnedain Ranger called Halvard joining Strider on his mission. It was also confirmed that Lee Pace will be returning to his Hobbit trilogy role as Thranduil the Elvenking. The actors will feature alongside the likes of Kate Winslet, who was confirmed to be joining the cast in a major role last month, as well as returning stars Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo, and the film's director Andy Serkis as Gollum.

  • The announcement came as part of the studio's presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas today.
  • The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled to hit cinemas on December 17, 2027.

The players

Jamie Dornan

An actor known for his roles in The Fall and the Fifty Shades series, who has now been cast in the iconic role of Strider in the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel film The Hunt for Gollum.

Viggo Mortensen

The actor who previously played the role of Strider, which is now being taken over by Jamie Dornan.

Leo Woodall

An actor who will play the role of Halvard, a fellow Dúnedain Ranger joining Strider on his mission in The Hunt for Gollum.

Lee Pace

An actor who will be reprising his role as Thranduil the Elvenking from the Hobbit trilogy in the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel film.

Kate Winslet

An acclaimed actress who has been confirmed to join the cast of The Hunt for Gollum in a major role.

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What they’re saying

“After re-confirming earlier this month that Viggo Mortensen would not be returning to his old role in The Lord of the Rings series for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, Warner Bros. and New Line have confirmed the character of Strider will be played by Jamie Dornan (The Fall, the Fifty Shades series).”

— Luke Reilly, Senior Editor, IGN Reviews Team

What’s next

The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled to hit cinemas on December 17, 2027, and is one of two upcoming films expanding on the iconic Lord of the Rings series established by director Peter Jackson in the early 2000s.

The takeaway

The casting of Jamie Dornan as Strider, a character previously portrayed by Viggo Mortensen, is a significant development for the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel film The Hunt for Gollum. This change in the lead role will shape the character's portrayal and impact the overall narrative as the beloved fantasy franchise continues to expand.