Here is the cast of the next Lord of the Rings

After months of breathless speculation, Warner Bros and New Line unveiled on Tuesday evening the cast of “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” featuring new actors and old stars of the saga. This is a moment that all die-hard fans of the legendary trilogy have been anxiously awaiting: after the announcement of a new installment, who will embody Aragorn, the handsome and mysterious Chief of the Dúnedain of the North? Gandalf, the gray wizard? Or Frodo, the brave hobbit?

Since Tuesday evening, we have our answer. And fans of “The Lord of the Rings” can rest assured: not only is part of the original cast returning for this new chapter, but the selected new actors should fully meet expectations.

A notable change is Jamie Dornan stepping into the role of Aragorn after Viggo Mortensen, bringing his beard and cold blue eyes to the character. This 42-year-old British actor faces a heavy task: succeeding Viggo Mortensen, 67, will not be easy, as Mortensen’s portrayal was widely praised during the original series and remains dear to the hearts of fans.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the cast will also include Kate Winslet as Marigol (more details to come) and Leo Woodall as Halvard, a human and traveling companion of Aragorn. Additionally, familiar faces like Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Frodo (Elijah Wood), and Thranduil (Lee Pace) will return.

Furthermore, Andy Serkis, who portrayed Gollum in Peter Jackson’s trilogy, will not only reprise his role as the strange creature but will also be the director of the film. To stay true to the vision of the original creator of the first films, the original creative team will contribute to reimagining Middle-earth.

In terms of the storyline, “The Hunt for Gollum” promises to focus on previously unexplored aspects, diving into the psychological complexity of the tortured and tragic fallen hobbit character. Set chronologically between “The Hobbit” trilogy and “The Lord of the Rings,” the plot will follow Aragorn and Gandalf as they search for Gollum to learn more about Bilbo’s ring – the famous “One Ring” that threatens Middle-earth during the events of “The Lord of the Rings.”

For purists who prefer to stick to J.R.R. Tolkien’s books or the original trilogy released between 2001 and 2003, apologies! Unfortunately, there is more to come in “The Lord of the Rings” universe.

Warner Bros recently announced that famous presenter Stephen Colbert, a devoted fan of the saga, is working on a new project for the franchise titled “The Lord of the Rings: The Shadow of the Past.” Inspired by eight chapters from Tolkien’s work “The Fellowship of the Ring” that were not featured in Jackson’s first film, the movie is in the works.

Meanwhile, “The Hunt for Gollum” is expected to hit the big screen next year, specifically in December 2027.