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Why Viggo Mortensen turned down The Hobbit

Actor reveals the reason he didn't want to reprise his role of Aragorn

Mortensen... turned down role in The Hobbit (Copyright: New Line)

Viggo Mortensen has revealed why he turned down an offer to reprise his role of Aragorn in Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit' series.

He was offered a role, but after spelling out something of a key problem with the idea to a producer, he declined.

“Before they started shooting, back in 2008, one of the producers did ask if I would be interested,” he told The Guardian.

“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?'”

[Viggo Mortensen shows off his Spanish in Everybody Has A Plan trailer]


So that was that, then...

He did add, however, that though he hasn't seen the first new film yet, he's still keen to do so.

“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,” he said.

“And I'm interested in seeing how he's managed to make three movies out of a relatively slim volume… Jackson is a clever person – I'm sure he'll have done something really interesting with it.”

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“I've gone back [to New Zealand] occasionally to visit friends both animal and human. It's a beautiful country.”

Mortensen can be seen playing identical twin brothers in the thriller 'Everybody Has A Plan', out on May 31.