Viggo Mortensen Reveals His Most Memorable Lord of the Rings Scene
Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn, shares his top pick for the most powerful moment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, focusing on a raw, emotional scene that stands out for its simplicity.
Viggo Mortensen, the bloke behind Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings films, has let slip which scene from the trilogy stands out as his personal favourite—and it’s not the one most punters would expect. Forget the grand entrances or epic battles; Mortensen’s pick is all about genuine emotion, not flashy effects or mythical beasts.
Marking the 25th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring, Mortensen reflected on the trilogy’s most moving moments. He pointed to Boromir’s final moments as the one that really stuck with him.
“That scene, I have to say, no offence to anybody else or any other part of the trilogy, but that’s maybe my favourite scene. It’s such a beautiful scene,”
he shared.
“And there are no effects, there are no imaginary monsters. It’s just two people who have a connection in terms of their ethnicity -- you know, Gondor and all that -- but they’ve been at odds. They’ve been kinda butting heads until then. And then there’s just such a strong connection.”
Raw Emotion Over Spectacle
The moment Mortensen singled out is Boromir’s death, especially as seen in the Extended Edition. It’s a scene that’s become a high point for fans, not because of any grand spectacle, but for the raw honesty between the characters. As Boromir lies dying, he pledges his loyalty to Aragorn, finally recognising him as his king. The two had clashed throughout their journey, but in those final moments, all the tension melts away, replaced by mutual respect and understanding.
Sean Bean’s portrayal of Boromir’s last stand—taking arrow after arrow to protect Merry and Pippin from the Uruk-hai—remains one of the trilogy’s most gut-wrenching scenes. Mortensen’s appreciation for this moment highlights the power of simple, heartfelt storytelling over big-budget wizardry.
Looking Ahead to Middle-earth’s Future
With Middle-earth set to return to the big screen in 2027 with The Hunt for Gollum, fans are already speculating about who might come back. The new film is said to focus on Aragorn’s pursuit of Gollum, but there’s no official word yet on whether Mortensen will reprise his role. He’s previously said he’d be open to it, but only if it made sense for where he’s at now.
Back in 2024, Mortensen told GQ UK,
“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.”
What’s Next for Fans
The Hunt for Gollum is set to hit cinemas on 17 December 2027, and anticipation is already building. In the meantime, there’s plenty for fans to look forward to, including the next season of The Rings of Power and a packed calendar of film releases. Whether Mortensen returns or not, his reflections on the trilogy remind us that sometimes, the quietest moments leave the biggest mark.