Viggo Mortensen’s career-defining role as Aragorn was not originally meant to be.
And it all came together thanks to a 12-year-old boy.
But it was Irish actor Stuart Townsend who was cast as Aragorn.
At 27, he was too young.
Naturally, Townsend wasn’t thrilled.
We just came to the realization that we had cast the role a little too young."
Viggo’s son saves the day
So what happened next?
He is the King that’s referenced in the title Return of the King.
He was given until later that afternoon to decide.
“We thought he would be really great and we badly wanted him now in this movie.
We were in a real bind,” Jackson admitted.
“Henry was about 11 or 12 years old at that time,” Jackson recalled.
What does Townsend think about all this?
Granted, at the time he couldn’t have known just how gigantic the series would become.
Not only was he replaced, Townsend said he never got paid.
“I was there rehearsing and training for two months, then was fired the day before filming began.
“I have no good feelings for those people in charge, I really don’t.”
His IMDB page states that Townsend isset to star in four upcoming films.
How did the cast react?
However, that’s not what happened.
Monaghan and his castmates were informed that Townsend was off the project.
And I think they were trying to protect Stuart as much as they could.
“He just disappeared,” the actor said of Townsend.
Our hours were ridiculous.
“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 the character.
It would be silly to do it otherwise,” he said.
Mortensen’s Lord of the Rings legacy extends to memes and beloved jokes as well.
Mortensen isn’t just known for playing Aragorn, of course.
It seems he’s still drawn back to The Lord of the Rings, though.
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