Viggo Mortensen’s Next Starring Movie Gets First Look After Being Replaced For New Lord Of The Rings Film

Though Viggo Mortensen has been replaced in the new Lord of the Rings movie, this ranger still knows how to lead the way.

The Danish-American actor is best known for his breakthrough role as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003). However, since The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set years before the original trilogy, Viggo Mortensen won’t be returning as Aragorn in the upcoming film and has been replaced by Jamie Dornan. However, Viggo Mortensen still has several starring roles upcoming.

Now, via Deadline, a first look at Viggo Mortensen in the upcoming movie Embers has been revealed. The image shows Ralph Fiennes and Viggo Mortensen’s characters talking in front of a fireplace, while a second image shows their co-star, Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why), also dressed in period attire. See the images in the slideshow below:

Directed by Oscar winner István Szabó (Mephisto), with a script written by two-time Oscar winner Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liasons, The Father) based on Sándor Márai’s acclaimed novel, the cast of Embers is led by three-time Oscar nominees Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises, Captain Fantastic, Green Book) and Ralph Fiennes (Schindler’s List, The English Patient, Conclave), and has been described as a “psychological duel” between their characters. The full synopsis for the film reads as follows:

Embers reconnects once inseparable friends, Konrad (Viggo Mortensen) and Henrik (Ralph Fiennes), decades after Konrad’s mysterious disappearance and uncovers over the course of one evening the secret that tore them apart—and the woman at the center of it.

Rounding out the prestige film’s ensemble cast are Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling (45 Years), Louis Hofmann, Gijs Blom, Evelyne Brochu, and Jonah Russell. The low-profile period drama is now filming in Budapest, Hungary. Embankment Films is set to kick off sales on the project in advance of the Cannes Film Market.

Though Viggo Mortensen won’t be returning as Aragorn, The Hunt for Gollum‘s confirmed cast also includes director Andy Serkis as Gollum, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo, and Lee Pace as Thranduil. New additions include Kate Winslet as Marigol and Leo Woodall as Halvard.

Christopher Hampton originally adapted Sándor Márai’s novel as a stage play in 2006, which ran in London’s West End. Embers marks director István Szabó’s first film in six years and just his second since 2012. The movie also marks a reunion between director István Szabó and star Ralph Fiennes after the 1999 film, Sunshine.

Director István Szabó, Viggo Mortensen, Ralph Fiennes, producer Robert Lantos, and Embankment’s Tim Haslam shared the following statements:

István Szabó: Since Christopher Hampton sent it to me, Robert Lantos and I have been waiting to film the best script I have ever held in my hands. The basis, Márai’s novel, is one of the most beautiful works of 20th Century fiction. Christopher perfectly adapted the novel for film.

Viggo Mortensen: To have worked alongside Ralph Fiennes for István Szabó on Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of Sándor Márai’s beautiful novel has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I couldn’t have asked for a more inspiring challenge.

Ralph Fiennes: I had long hoped to be reunited with István Szabó on another film. Robert Lantos has brought us together with Christopher Hampton’s wonderful adaptation of Embers. One of the great joys of this project was to be able to work with Viggo Mortensen, he is a great actor who I have admired for many years. It was something extraordinary to be on the set with him, István and a superb Hungarian crew.

Robert Lantos: I have worked with Ralph, Viggo and István in the past. Uniting them to make Christopher Hampton’s magnificent screenplay come to life is a fantasy realized. Embers is my dream team film.

Tim Haslam: Embers is a high stakes psychological duel, in which a moment of desire and betrayal defines a lifetime.

The crew also includes Oscar-winning composer Mychael Danna (Life of Pi), production designer Attila F. Kovacs, cinematographer Dániel Garas, costume designer Bea Merkovits, and editor David Wharnsby. Embers was cast by Oscar nominee Nina Gold (Hamnet).

Birthdate

October 20, 1958

Birthplace

Watertown, New York, USA