Date: 31st May 2013

Mortensen: I said no to The Hobbit.


Viggo Mortensen has revealed he declined the opportunity to reprise his Lord Of The Rings role in The Hobbit, because the character isn't in the earlier book.

The 54-year-old had been expected to return as Aragorn in Peter Jackson's big-screen adaptation of JRR Tolkien's prequel, alongside Sir Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett and Orlando Bloom, but admitted he had turned it down.

"Before they started shooting, back in 2008, one of the producers did ask if I would be interested. I said, 'You do know, don't you, that Aragorn isn't in The Hobbit? That there is a 60-year gap between the books?'" he told The Guardian.

Viggo - who next stars in Spanish-language drama Everybody Has A Plan - admitted he hasn't seen the new film yet, which stars Martin Freeman as hobbit Bilbo Baggins.

"I'm interested in seeing that world again, and seeing what Peter Jackson's done, how he's made use of the improvements in special effects and cameras and the different way of shooting, which will probably enhance the visual aspect of the experience, the sound also. And I'm interested in seeing how he's managed to make three movies out of a relatively slim volume," he continued.

"Jackson is a clever person - I'm sure he'll have done something really interesting with it."

Meanwhile, the Danish-American actor hopes to direct a film, which is based on Mari Sandoz's book The Horse Catcher, from a script he has written.

"If I can get the money together. It will be a difficult film to make. You can prepare, but you have to be lucky, too," he said.

Source: Press Release


 

 

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