Our friend Jerry Vanderstelt has an amazing new print out – if you haven’t already added this to your collection!
This gorgeous print captures the beautiful Rivendell – but from a different viewpoint than his previous print of the same location. We see a quiet moment between Aragorn and Arwen, most likely before Aragorn sets out to help Frodo destroy the One Ring. Fans can purchase this print right now, ranging in sizes from 16×24 to 24×36, with prices between $85-170 USD depending on the size chosen. If you know Jerry’s work you already know this is another home run piece by him. Get it now, as the paper editions have an edition size of only 2000 pieces.
This was a week of special magnificence of LOTR news!
Lord of the Rings returns to cinemas
WB and Fathom Events kick of the #LOTR25 year of celebration by bringing the Extended Editions back to theaters starting today. Over the next couple weeks you have the opportunity to watch any of the Extended Editions on the big screen. Not limited to USA only, we have reports of many countries getting the cinema treatment too! Check your local theater listing or start at Fathom Events website.
The "Lord of the Rings" trilogy has generated $5 million in box office presales ahead of its theatrical rerelease, with approximately 407,000 tickets sold so far.https://t.co/IKDIER8eirpic.twitter.com/aQxxO1SIRK
AMC theaters will have a special Middle-earth Map popcorn tin, and Regal Cinemas have a ring themed 25th anniversay tin. Other cinema chains may have either, so check with your local theater.
Aragorn to be recast
With new LOTR films on the way from Philippa Boyens and team, it was inevitable that some conversations around recasting characters would occur. It seems that time has come as reports surfaced of auditions currently happening in London and Wellington to cast a younger Aragorn actor, said to be around Joe Keery’s age.
In Search of… Young Smeagol
Also being cast for the new “Hunt for Gollum” film directed by Andy Serkis is a young Smeagol and Deagol. Reports from Knight Edge Media are they are looking for children around 10 years old that can pass for Stoors, which Smeagol and Deagol were.
Mithril Cut, or the Extended EXTENDED Edition
EMPIRE magazine LOTR 25 tribute issue is out (Apple News+ Link) and biographer Ian Nathan got Peter Jackson to admit the long-rumored Mithril Cut of LOTR is dead and doesn’t exist. Although, just a paragraph later, PJ mentions a more definitive documentary that we first reported 10 years ago which WB needs to fund for completion. Word from insiders say that WB marketing are closely watching the fan reaction to the Mithril Cut news, so it may be a good idea to express yourself on social media!
Look for the EMPIRE LOTR 25 issue on Newsstands or places like Barnes & Noble.
Elijah Wood is coming to YOUR house for the Superbowl
Skittles candies have a contest running right now to send Elijah Wood to your house for the big game. Details here.
Another Tolkien Scholar sails west
This week we lost another cherished family member of the Legendarium. Author Walter S. Judd worked with his son on The Flora of Middle-earth, a defining text on the plant life of Tolkien’s world. Get a copy at Amazon or your local bookstore.
Very sad to hear that Walter S. Judd, co-author of "Flora of Middle-earth" has passed away. RIP. pic.twitter.com/YuU79DuZFV
Sources close to production say auditions are currently happening in London and Wellington, as revealed on the latest TORN Tuesday episode. 60 second clip below.
Andy Serkis is directing the next big The Lord of the Rings movie, currently titled ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ – a title which will be familiar to fans, from a well-known fan film made 15 years ago. Produced by Peter Jackson and written by the Oscar winning team of Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Rohirrim writers Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou, The Hunt for Gollum is set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Since the announcement of the new movie, fan discussion has been split about whether to recast or de-age the original actors. Some fans were put off by the obvious “Golden Girls” soft filters applied to Legolas in The Hobbit movies; other fans consider the original actors from the 25 year old LOTR movies the definitive versions of these characters. BTS video in The Appendices shows the commitment actors put into these roles.
A Chance for Book Accuracy
From the wonderful wiki Tolkien Gateway page on the book character, “Aragorn is described as “lean, dark, and tall,” with “a shaggy head of dark hair flecked with grey, and in a pale stern face a pair of keen grey eyes.”[45]Tolkien later wrote that he was at least 6’6″. In recent shows, Cliff & Justin have started championing a more eastern Mediterranean look for Aragorn that adheres closer to the book descriptions. JRR Tolkien doesn’t often describe the looks of characters, but Aragorn has specific traits that imply his Numenorian blood. Ralph Bakshi’s animated Aragorn is seen with Native American influences, and Magic The Gathering’s Aragorn was a brand new take. Maybe the movie casting should consider the rich diaspora of renditions of Aragorn, especially since this movie is set during his Strider / Ranger days. Oscar winner Riz Ahmed, Oscar nominee Dev Patel, or fan favorite Rahul Kohli would all make for an exceptional Aragorn, with all the emotional depth Tolkien’s character requires.
Too Old for a Numenorian?
Additional feedback from anonymous sources close to casting say that actors Sebastian Stan or Ben Barnes are “too old for the written character” – which is funny, given that Aragorn was original played by Stuart Townsend before he was replaced by the older Viggo Mortensen. Fans have long been fancasting actors like Ben Barnes or Sebastian Stan as young Aragorn.
Why has Viggo Mortensen passed on playing Aragorn again 25 years later? Earlier in 2024 while promoting his film The Dead Don’t Hurt he said, “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.” In an earlier interview from 2017, Viggo Mortensen expanded on his 2014 comments that he felt The Hobbit was too CGI for his tastes.
“It’s personal taste. I personally like the extended version of the first movie because it was less computer generated, had more scenes one-on-one and [there were] lesser liberties taken, let’s say – that happens to be my preference. It still had the spirit of Tolkien, they had that nailed down all the way – it’s just my preference in the way I read him and I feel like the first one was more representative.”
It’s almost certain The Hunt for Gollum will be using more CGI and the latest in digital filmmaking, incorporating Weta Digital’s expertise from making 3 Avatar movies on mocap stages and the latest AI frame generation that Peter Jackson won Emmys for with The Beatles: Get Back. Andy Serkis and Peter Jackson have both expressed their affinity for the latest in AI tools, so there is no doubt this new movie will lean into new technologies.
Big Name or Unknown Actor?
Rumors really started to heat up in December 2025 when respected leakers at Knight Edge Media confirmed recasting was taking place. This aligns with gossip TheOneRing.net has heard – including that there is a favorite actor but we have not heard who it is. Further casting now in January 2026 may imply that initial choice passed because of scheduling conflicts. He must be a busy actor!
Aragorn Will Be Recast in 'Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' (EXCLUSIVE) – (via @KnightEdgeMedia)
Today, we at Knight Edge Media have learned exclusively that the character of Aragorn will be recast with a younger actor in the upcoming Lord of the Rings spin-off film, … pic.twitter.com/k5yo153h3b
Extra whispers are that Andy Serkis is looking for someone Joe Keery’s age (from Stranger Things, the hottest show of the last 10 years); these actor options really expand the field. Fans have been reacting to the news about recasting Aragorn for the last week with equal enthusiasm and trepidation. It still is 50/50 on expectations. While we’re here, could the Sprouse twins be considered for Elrond’s twin sons? Dylan Sprouse is a huge LOTR fan and been on TORN’s podcast in the past.
Instagram and X fans are tagging their wish lists.
BREAKING 🚨: Aragorn to Be Recast for “The Hunt for Gollum” as Auditions Begin in London and New Zealand 🎥
During The One Ring Net (@theoneringnet) TORN Tuesday chat on January 6, it was revealed that Aragorn is being recast for “The Hunt for Gollum,” with auditions currently… pic.twitter.com/XJQ8aHrWpE
I still think they should bring Viggo back as an older Aragorn telling this story to their kids after return of the king & doing
Andrew Lincoln would be great since they look very similar but if it takes place in the 20 yrs prior to The Fellowship movie that might throw it off💀 https://t.co/ShnqBWKLXFpic.twitter.com/YwKPvltarz
They're looking for a younger actor for Aragorn in 'The Hunt for Gollum,' but what about Henry Cavill? He's a huge Lord of the Rings fan he watches the extended editions as his comfort movies, named his dog Baggins, and has said it's his all time favorite series. With that… https://t.co/U7mNiMoPVbpic.twitter.com/zeP0O3d4ym
If prop replicas are your thing, and I know many a collector who that is their focus, then these awesome pieces by the folks at United Cutlery just might be what you’re looking for.
One of my favourite replica weapons I’ve owned was the original Anduril. Now almost 25 years later if you missed out on that version you can snag this beautiful Museum Collection version. This version of Anduril comes with a beautiful plaque, Gondorian banner, and a certificate of authenticity. This awesome piece by UC is in-stock and ready to ship! You can snag it for $599.
If you’re looking to add to your Legolas collection, you can now add his Lothlorien bow. This is very much one of those pieces I think needs to be in a Legolas themed collection and will really pop once it’s in yours. The Lothlorien bow of Legolas is also in-stock and can be snagged for $469.
Now, if bad guys are your thing. Especially a certain dark lord who may have a thing for one rings then this next piece is for you. This is another museum collection piece so you’re getting all the similar goodies you would get with the Andruil sword only themed for Sauron himself. Sauron’s helm is in-stock as well and ready to ship for $499. Fun note this helm is leather lined so you just might be able to wear it.
In this Collecting the Precious, I thought we’d have a look at a piece from my collection that is from an area of Middle-earth that means a lot to me, Gondor. I love it’s entire history from all the bits of lore we know, from it’s earliest beginnings in Numenor, through to the restoration of the High Kings throne by King Elessar.
This review covers one of that cultures greatest heroes; King Elendil. I’ve loved the armour since I saw The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring almost 25 years ago. I was lucky that many years ago my Dad got me the King Elendil bust, but as the years went on I very much wanted a statue of this character. Finally after 20+ years it got announced and it sits proudly in my collection. If you’re looking for this statue now, you will have to look for it on the secondary market, because it is long sold out. So I wish you the best of luck on your hunt. I hope you enjoy this look at one of my favourite pieces made by Weta Workshop.
