Dornan and Woodall Join Star-Studded LOTR Cast

and are the latest names to be announced in connection to The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum spin-off.

Actor Dornan, 43, will play Strider - an alias used by fan favourite Aragorn - while Leo Woodall has been revealed as a character named Halvard.

The returning cast include, Andy Serkis, who will play Gollum again, with and returning as Frodo and Gandalf. Lee Pace also is back as Thranduil.

It was previously reported that A-list star  is also joining the cast as Marigol in the franchise, which will be directed by Serkis.

The Titanic star will take on her biggest fantasy role yet, fresh from her part in Avatar: Fire and Ash, after months of speculation about her mysterious casting.

Marigol is a character central to the film's narrative between The Hobbit and the original Lord of the Rings trilogy events.

Warner Bros. announced at CinemaCon that Dornan was selected to portray the 80-something-year-old chief of the Northern Dúnedain Rangers.

Aragorn was previously played by Viggo Mortensen and fans were in uproar when they learned he wouldn't be returning to the franchise. 

Fans might not recall that the last time the three-time Oscar nominee played the part of Strider was 23 years ago and he's now 67.

At 43, the Irishman is the exact same age Mortensen was when he replaced Stuart Townsend as the expert tracker and warrior in The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001.

The Danish-American silver fox had been open to reprising the role of Strider, telling British GQ in 2024: 'I like playing that character. I learned a lot playing the character. I enjoyed it a lot.

'I would only do it if I was right for it in terms of, you know, the age I am now and so forth. I would only do it if I was right for the character. It would be silly to do it otherwise.'

Dornan is best known for his roles in Belfast (2021), Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021), the Fifty Shades trilogy (2015–2018), The Fall (2013–2016), Once Upon a Time (2011–2013) and Marie Antoinette (2006).

Woodall, who was rumored to takeover Aragorn, will actually be playing Dúnedain ranger Halvard, who joins Strider and the wizard Gandalf on their mission to capture Gollum in a tale set between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring.

'Across two trilogies, a mark of a Middle-earth film, has always been the formidable array of talent brought to bear in every role,' the 61-year-old filmmaker said in a statement.

'The Hunt for Gollum continues in that tradition, and I am delighted to announce the return of two of Middle-earth's most beloved performers, alongside some exceptionally talented new additions to Tolkien's world.'

The Lord of the Rings screenwriters Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh penned The Hunt for Gollum script with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou.

Filming is set to begin later this year in Wellington, New Zealand.

The fan reaction to Dornan's casting was mixed on Instagram, with user @mina_erickson commenting: '50 shades of Gollum.'

And Instagram user @charliethomason joked: 'Kate Winslet to Jamie Dornan in LOTR: 'draw me like one of your Rivendell girls.''

Instagram user @saramorelloart was pleased, posting six shocked emojis and one heart-eye emoji: 'Jamie Dornan is Aragorn?'

'From a looks wise Jamie is fantastic for Aragorn,' Instagram user @tristan_fredrick wrote.

Instagram user @breecrossroads was so excited she commented in all caps: 'JAMIE DORNAN. HELL YEAH. AND LEEEEE PACE! AGGHHHHHHH.'

'Jamie Dornan, you just being given a second chance in this industry,' Instagram user @iamyeeezus cautioned. 'And what a chance.'

Instagram user @tragick07 was open to the idea, commenting: 'Seeing someone else as Strider other than Viggo still breaks my heart, but hope the actor does him justice.'

While some LOTR fans were not having it like Instagram user @elijasaurus_rex who stated: 'If it ain't Viggo, it AIN'T ARAGORN.'

Instagram user @wolfbornspirit agreed, commenting: 'No. Not without Viggo. He was, is and always will be Aragorn.'