Since he doesn’t actually appear anywhere in the book, hardcore fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth legendarium might scoff at the notion of seeing Aragorn in a “Hobbit” film.
Not “Lord of the Rings” star Viggo Mortsensen who has at least left the door slightly ajar.
“I’m curious about it,” he told MTV News about his potential involvement in a long rumored “Hobbit” flick. “LOTR’ borrowed from other sources. There was dialogue and set pieces that came from work outside of ‘Lord of the Rings,’ or took from the appendices. You never know.”
Indeed, nearly all of Aragorn’s romance with Arwen (Liv Tyler) was drawn from Tolkien’s appendices and retroactively inserted into the Ring narrative by director Peter Jackson. A similar ploy could be used to bring Aragorn back for Bilbo’s journey (or, perhaps more appropriately, to surround and follow Bilbo’s journey), since Tolkien provided an extensive backstory for the once and future king of Middle Earth in his other writings.
Jackson himself commented on some of these potential plot lines in an interview last September with AICN, where he talked about how he’d “love to work with Viggo again [possibly by having] Aragorn protecting the Shire.”
But with all that said – and despite the fact that he’d be game – it “doesn’t seem like I would be part of [“The Hobbit”],” insisted Viggo. “Anybody that likes Tolkien or Peter Jackson’s trilogy is interested in what happens [but] I’m not really in the loop.”
According to Viggo, though, one thing’s for certain: Whether he’s in it or not, he thinks there’s only one man that could possibly bring the story to the big screen.
“It seems pretty obvious that Peter Jackson would be the person to direct it,” he said, echoing statements made by his ‘LOTR’ co-star Orlando Bloom to MTV News in May. “If they do it I hope Peter gets to do it.”
Ok hardcore fans: would you support a “Hobbit” story that had brief scenes with Aragorn? What about if it was a two-part tale, with the second movie connecting “Hobbit” to “LOTR”? Sound off below.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Yes.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
No. But he deserves his own prequel in his own right. So twice as good in the end. I am pretty sure Jackson will wind up being the director anyway. Read more on my blog: http://marketsaw.blogspot.com
September 13th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
ARAGORN belongs in any account of the period between the end of “The Hobbit” and the beginning of “The Fellowship of the Ring.” Here’s why–
•He and GANDALF first met in those days.
•STRIDER and his fellow Rangers *did* keep The Shire free of goblins, wargs, wolves, bill collectors, etc.
•GALADRIEL (and possibly CELEBORN) and SARUMAN belong too, as members of the White Council, who met to decide what to do about the Necromancer (SAURON).
•LEGOLAS (for you Orlando Bloom fans) could do a cameo, since BILBO and the dwarves were held prisoner in his father’s realm in Mirkwood.
September 13th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
As an Aragorn/Viggo fan, I would love to see him in this film. Any of the other LOTR cast {except the hobbits, who were`nt born then} would be welcome in my eyes.
September 13th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Absolutely. I believe the spirit of Tolkien can be served with some minor fiddling with events and timelines, with some minor invention. I think Jackson clearly demonstrated he’s the one to entrust with such “risky business.” And I also agree with above poster that an Aragorn “standalone” story would be great. PJ should make us two films for sure…the Hobbit and the “Twixt Hobbit and Rings” and I’m betting another Trilogy with TWO in-betweeners would even work…though I can’t see PJ committing another 10 years of his life.
September 13th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
I’d be a little cautious on adding Aragorn, especially with Viggo, given the age problem that would pop up.
Besides I’m still hoping for a 2 movie Hobbit rather than The Hobbit + Prequel.
Still, either way, it’s more Tolkien, so one can’t complain.
Finally I do believe this: Peter Jackson MUST be the one to do it. Don’t throw Spiderman to the mix. Hobbits and spiders do not get along well in Middle Earth. Imagine a radioactive spider.
September 13th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I would absolutely love to see Viggo, Orlando, Cate Blanchette, Sir Ian McKellen, etc. do a two-part movie set. There is so much which is in the LOTR appendicies which can be crafted into a script, that it would be easy to accomplish re-assembling parts of the LOTRs trilogy cast. I do hope PJ and Fran and Philipa are the screenwriters, producers and director though.
September 13th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I think Aragorn “Viggo” will be in the Hobbit i hope so , remember he is 87 years old in the Lord Of The rings, and the Hobbit happend 60 years ago.
Peter Jackson will derict the Hobbit and if he doesn’t No one will see it…
September 13th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Aragorn was CHRONOLOGICALLY in the time period of The Hobbit; his backstory from the Appendixes is pretty full.
The idea is that Aragorn is raised at Rivendell, falls in love with Arwen when he’s 20 years old, then goes off travelling the world becoming this great warrior and then he’s the Chieftain of the Rangers of the North;
What the Rangers do is silently protect the Shire from outside threats and bandits and such.
So we could have Aragorn making a cameo by say, running up in the night and killing some bandits (along with some other Rangers) trying to harrass the Shire’s borders as Frodo leaves.
***However, I think just a straightfoward insertion of his backstory from the Appendixes (i.e. the “Tale of Aragorn and Arwen”) would be great and just be good as a “side story” surrounding the Hobbit….SO LONG AS they dont’ try to work it into the main plot!
***THe idea is that “two “the Hobbit” movies” means that the first one is actually “the Hobbit” and the second is sort of an adaptation of the “Appendix”, essentially a series of vignettes ranging from 10 minutes to upwards of half an hour, telling the stories of various characters as they progress.
“The Appendix movie” would fill in the gaps, basically spending a few minutes setting up what happens with the young Hobbit characters in the Shire, the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, the rise of Isengard and fall of Theoden and how Eomer and Eowyn got orphaned, ***the big centerpiece would be the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen though, plus a lot about Gondor with Boromir and Faramir.
September 13th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Any movie would benefit from the presence of Viggo Mortensen, a consummate actor. Any further movies based on the Tolkien trilogy and appendices and that would provide more background on Aragorn and Arwen would be fabulous. Fans would love them.
September 13th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Aragorn would be most welcome in either of the two.
I agree with the poster who stated the centerpiece of the second film would be the story of Arwen
and Aragorn from when they first meet. Most of
the major chararcters from TLOTR were active and
involved in the background history surrounding the hobbits.
Peter Jackson is the only one who can do it. Very
few folks would go if anyone but him directed it.
September 13th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
I personally would welcome any well executed cameos from anyone in the cast who is chronologically reasonable. Of course such cameos could only be possible with Peter Jackson at the helm.
Seriously, if he doesn’t direct I am going to start or join a serious boycott against the film.
September 13th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Aragorn’s fate is tied to the ring. So it would be fitting to have a scene where he witness the ring even perhaps struggling to resist taking it as gift from Bilbo or by force.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:02 am
Considering Aragorn would be very young at the time, perhaps it would be best that Stuart Townsend got the role in The Hobbit, if Aragorn was to make a cameo in it.
Viggo would be best at the role of Bard, but this might just mess up too much with the audience. For a Tolkien fan, it would not be strange to see the same actor play the role of Bard, Aragorn, and Beren–the three have basically the same physical traits and character concept, and Viggo would be perfectly right for them.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:45 am
I would absolutely support a “Hobbit” with the presence of Aragorn as a subplot - really, it isn’t even messing with the timeline; Aragorn exists and plays his own improtant role during this part of the thrid age. I wouldn’t even mind if, through some flashback/story-telling scene, Aragorn’s time as a Rider of the Mark or his time under Ecthelion(steward, Denethor’s father) of Gondor was briefly passed over. However, more important to me is the backstory concerning the dwarves. I’d much rather see and hear about Thrain, Thror, the loss of the kingdom under the mountain. Also, the Ork-Dwarrow wars over Thrain’s death -where Bolg is slain by Dain Ironfoot, and Thorin receives his nickname ‘oakenshield’. Also of course I would want to see Thror’s fevered expedition to reclaim Moria, his imprisonment at Dol Gulder and finally his passing with Gandalf receiving the rhune letter map for Lonely Mountain.
I don’t think the film has to be split strictly between the ‘hobbit story’ on one installation and the ‘appendix lotr-linking material’ in the second. I would prefer if they simply fleshed out “the Hobbit” with material ranging from the Silmarillion, Histories of Middle Earth, and the lotr appendixes between two movies. The main thematic driving storyline would of course still concern Bilbo and his treck to the Lonely Mountain. Or maybe I just want to see as much of Tolkien’s world come to life as is possible in two films by Jackson.
September 14th, 2007 at 2:31 am
Elrond-must bring back Weaving
Legolas-Battle of Five Armies at Thranduil’s side and battling goblins with those moves of his (c.f. Helm’s Deep, flight to Helm’s deep,the cave troll in Moria, Pelennor…)
Gloin=Rhys-Davies -his voice is as important as his looks which could be altered somewhat
Aragorn-wherever/whenever possible what about his capturing Gollum with Gandalf, here again Legolas is needed for Gollum’s imprisonment in Thranduil’s kingdom…
Arwen and her mother-in Lorien
rescue of Arwen’s mother snippit or telling/flashback
possible flashback scene-death of Glaurung building up to and prior to slaying of Smaug (from Silmarillion)maybe told at an inn when dwarves are in Laketown
should consider making wargs more wolfish and less hyena-ish
CANNOT neglect Beorn scenes like the cartoon did… CANNOT neglect Arkenstone (the same)
Legolas could head up Thorin’s capture
I cannot wait to see what PJ would do with “barrels out of bond” there will be a lot of chances for humor in Thranduil’s caverns
feasibility and business side of this endeavor:
1. astounded and grateful audience
2. $$$$$$$$$
outcome:
Priceless
September 14th, 2007 at 6:05 am
one man to direct them all… and binds them into succes..
Peter Jackson is the one…
September 14th, 2007 at 6:08 am
YES YES VIGGO FOR ARAGORN IN THE HOBBIT!!!!
September 14th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Did anyone see Viggo’s surprise cameo on the Colbert Report last night?
September 14th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I have no problem with Aragorn being plugged into The Hobbit. Let’s not forget that Tolkien himself re-wrote the Riddles in the Dark portion of The Hobbit after LOTR was published. Anything that gives more depth to the story suits me fine.
September 14th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) is by far my favourite character, and Arwen is my second to favourite. And it would be brilliant if “The Hobbit” took place thirty years before “The Lord of the Rings”, for that is when Aragorn and Arwen would first meet. And that could be added to the movie.
But unfortunately, “The Hobbit” is sixty years before “The Lord of the Rings” (before Aragorn is really even born) and it would not fit the story nor make sense. I suppose, though, Peter Jackson could change it up a bit.
September 14th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Yes to Aragorn in the film(s). He fits, especially if there is an in-between film tying the hobbit into LOTR. And I actually think Peter, Fran and Phillipa could compose a wonderful screenplay for an in-between movie out of the material Tolkien offers. That would be as much Aragorn’s story as any one else’s.
Viggo is a class-act. Aside from his phenomenal and intense portrayal of Aragorn, he’s just a great guy. (I mean, he just bought one of the horses for a stunt rider because she loved her horse so much but couldn’t afford it.) Still, the age issue could be jolting. It’s much easier to age someone than it is to take them back to looking 20.
September 14th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Will Taylor, Aragorn would not be twenty years old during The Hobbit. It would really be 10 years before he is even born, because the Lord of the Rings takes place sixty years after The Hobbit
September 14th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Will Taylor, Aragorn is not 20 during The Hobbit. It would actually be 10 years before he was born, because the Lord of the Rings takes place 60 years after The Hobbit. And he is about 50 in The Lord of the Rings
September 14th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Will Taylor, Aragorn would not be 20 in The Hobbit. It would actually be 10 years before he is born, for the Lord of the Rings takes place 60 years after The Hobbit. And in the Lord of the Rings he is about 50.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Actually, Aragorn was 80 years old at the time of LOTR, so he actually would be old enough to appear in this.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
No, no, no Aragorn is actually 87 in LOTR. However, The Hobbit is set 77 years before LOTR (Bilbo did keep the ring for 60 years, but left the shire and passed the ring on to Frodo 17 years before Frodo set out for Rivendell). Whilst they may possibly be able to make Viggo look 20-odd, I highly doubt they can make him look ten!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
i wish some of you would actually read the books or even watch the films fully. Aragorn is in his 80’s in the lord of the rings! there’s even a scene dedicated to his age in the extended version of two towers film, on journey to helms deep Eowyn realises aragorn is a descendant of Númenor and discovers his age to be 87.
A simple background (not including the politics of gondor)
Around the time of ‘the hobbit’ Aragorn was in the service of Denethor’s father Ecthelion under the alias Thorongil so to keep his true identity hidden. Ecthelion was so impressed with thorongil’s bravery and leadership that he began to look upon him as a son, much to the displeasure of his real son Denethor and this jelousy is part of what drives denethors hatred and distrust of Aragorn when he discovers many years later his true identity.
Theres plenty of scope for aragorn and all the elves to be in the hobbit.
September 14th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Thing is Aragorn is 87 in the two towers. And also lets not speculate in things when Peter Jackson isn’t directing. It will only lead to a big flop if someone else directs the hobbit and beleive me people that have actually read the hobbit theres alot of characters no need for aragorn. Peace Out G33KZ
September 14th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Aragorn (Viggo Mortenson) would be a great addition to The Hobbit movie but only if it is a two part series (which I hope it is).
September 19th, 2007 at 8:55 am
I love Aragorn. But I love The Hobbit as it is too, and while it would be great seeing a bit more, like the White Councils victory that Gandalf is working on while Bilbo is having the larger part of his adventure, I dont really think we need to alter the time chronology just to have more of the romance that was quite omnipresent in LOTR. Let Bilbo be the hero, not Aragorn. And Arwens’ got even less to do with that plot, however lovely she might be. Maybe Aragorns father, Arathorn would be a more apropriate charakter for Viggo to play if the plot needs rangers. Just a thought, though.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:56 am
They should cast David Bowie as Legolas’ father Thranduil.
Bowie was interested in playing Elrond but ultimately didn’t get the part.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Alright folks… Aragorn was either 87 or 88 during the War of the Ring. And at the same time Bilbo Baggins was 111. (note: all this is going by the movies, not the books) Bilbo left on his unexpected adventure as chronicled in the Hobbit when he was fifty. 111-50=61 years. So the Hobbit was happening 61 years before the LOTR trilogy takes place. Aragorn’s age was 88 so 88-61=27. According to movie chronology, Aragorn would have been 27 during the Hobbit. As “Geths” said, Aragorn would have been serving under Denethor’s father Ecthelion or Theoden’s father Thengel at the time. Sounds feasible to put him in the second “in between” movie!
September 19th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Yes!
He would be great as Brom (I think that is correct)
he would be great in shooting down Smaug and in the battle of the Five Armies.
He could easily play a second character in Tolkien’s work- he would also be great in Bern in the next round of Tolkien movies after the Hobbit.
September 19th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
I didn’t mean to post the same message thrice; that was completely accidental. I thought several times that it had not been submitted properly. And I just found out that Aragorn is indeed 87 years old in LOTR. I must have forgotten…. Hehe.
But LOTR still took place 60 years after The Hobbit, so during The Hobbit Aragorn was about 27.
September 19th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Yes, Thorgaz is completely right. I don’t know why I thought Aragorn was fifty, but I guess I just added wrong. Anyway, go to the Encyclopedia of Arda site and you can find out when Aragorn was born, died, what age he was during the War of the Ring or The Hobbit or any of that! Encyclopedia of Arda has everything about Middle-earth and LOTR and the World of Arda.
September 22nd, 2007 at 2:34 pm
I would not go if aragorn is not in it
September 22nd, 2007 at 2:37 pm
I think aragorn would make a perfect addition.
September 23rd, 2007 at 6:01 pm
I will not take my famliy of 7 if aragorn isn,t in it
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Aragorn being in the Hobbit may seem cool, but if you’ve ever read the book, then you would notice that it doesn’t need him in the least.
September 25th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
So it sounds like two movies. However, I would let the Hobbit stand as-is with maybe only a few hints at the next saga. Then, feel free to make a second movie with a different name to show the “in-between”. Maybe “The Ranger”.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
I think people get too tied up with wanting a movie to be EXACTLY like the book. I enjoyed the books and continue to enjoy them. But the movies are different. They are different forms of entertainment to me and as long as the basis for the “world” of middle earth comes from Tolkien, it doesn’t matter to me what plot lines are added.
People forget two important elements.
1) these movies are made to make money, not necessarily to fulfill the fantasies of book-lovers as the EXACT reproduction of the book in film form. Anyone who wants to do that is welcome to pony up the $250 million and produce it themselves. But 40 minutes of dialogue as they walk along on their journey would be pretty boring for most movie goers. Studios don’t like long movies. Longer movies play fewer times in the theaters and therefore make less money. It is THEIR money and risk that gives you the privilage of even being able to see this story on the big screen.
2) you can’t assume that everyone who watches the movies have read the books. It has to be appealing and engaging and stand on its own merit. This often means adding love stories and sub-plots, or even removing certain elements that would interrupt the flow of the movie.
I love the Hobbit and LOTR books. I also love the movies by themselves because of the VISUAL world that was interpreted. I wish there were another 3-4 “middle-earth” inspired movies. Why stop at the Hobbit? There is plenty of additional information on Middle Earth.
What I do think is absolutely essential no matter how many movies are made is continuity. It usually means having the same director, but it most CERTAINLY means having the same set designers, costume designers, visual effects teams, and the same actors where applicable.
Should Aragorn be in the Hobbit? Sure. Why not? Don’t change the story just to stuff him in, but if a sub-plot or surrounding plot could be added, there is no harm in letting MOVIE fans see one of their favorite characters again. Again, I’m talking about fans of the MOVIES. If people want to have a literal interpretation of Tolkien’s story… well, that’s what the books are for. If you want to be entertained for a few hours and watch a movie inspired by that story, that’s what the movies are for. And clearly Peter Jackson did it successfully and the $2.9 BILLION the franchise made worldwide proves it.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I am all for it. What a great concept to have Aragon be involved right from the get go. While it’s true that the “younger” hobbits did not know of him, why would be it be so hard to think that Bilbo wouldn’t have? I’ll go the extra step and ask, is there a way to bring Legolass back too?
October 7th, 2007 at 3:34 am
Put Viggo in the movie and I am sure Legolass would fit in also, being a mirkwood elf.
October 11th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
I think Viggo and Orlando would be an amazing addition to The Hobbit!!! They both acted so well in LoTR, and Orlando would fit in really well with the Mirkwood Elves!!!
October 11th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
I would love this addion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 13th, 2007 at 4:25 am
Jackson and Walsh have already demonstrated that they are quite adept (like Christopher Tolkien) in filling in the storyline trailings left by Christopher’s father. Taking the substitution of Glorfindel with Arwen as an example, this bold decision eventually won over many diehard fans; chiefly because it gave the existing storylines so much more room to breathe and develop in a relationship which was clearly a chief motivational driver for Aragorn, during his thoughtful stalking towards his destiny.
While Mortensen would make a rustic bravehearted styled Beorn, an embellishment of Aragorn’s earlier life, I suspect, is a worthier canvas for Jackson and Walsh. Remembering that Aragorn has travelled through Moria before; why not around the time of Thorin’s excursion some sixty years prior? Do we see the Moria rescue of the entire dwarf party by Gandalf or more realistically, in tandem with his known ranger companion? What about a place on the White Council as the heir of Gondor? The grey wizard could arrange this and would hardly need the permission of Gondor’s steward.
A window of opportunity remains in using a few actors with whom the audience really connected. Part of that connection we have is invested in some key characters, rather than just their actors. Like the overwhelming desire to have Jackson direct this, it is an asset that any studio would be foolish to quickly pass on.
October 14th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
First of all let me say that any opportunity I can get to look at Aragorn would be alright with me, but seriously, there are a lot of back stories, as we know, that could possibly be worked into the Hobbit.Although, the Hobbit stands brilliantly just as is.
And speaking of Aragorn, I have always thought that it would be interesting to find out what happened to him after he married Arawen and had two children. I think a movie about his continuing battles in rounding up all the bad creatures,with his son, would be interesting. There are many interesting tales just waiting to be told from the appendices, don’t you think? But I “DO NOT” think that anyone should touch anything to do with Tolkien, unless it is Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens, and of course the entire crew that brought Middle earth to life. The movies will forever be brilliant. I could never grow tired of viewing the magnificent writings of Tolkien, or Tolkien, seen through Peter Jacksons eyes!
October 15th, 2007 at 12:02 am
i think viggo was born tobe aragorn, and the movie would be wounderful, but even better with him in any possible way
October 16th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Im a hardcore fan and I would love to see Aragorn and Legolas again. If they are put in the script and makes the film flow real well, I vote yes!!! Love the idea!!!