The cast of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' on a film poster with Liv Tyler's Arwen, Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn, Elijah Wood's Frodo, Ian McKellen's Gandalf, and Cate Blanchett's Galadriel front and center. Image via New Line Cinema By Kendall Myers Published Sep 26, 2026, 12:46 AM EDT Kendall Myers is a Senior Author with Collider. As part of the TV and Movies Features team, she writes about some of the most popular releases before, during, and after they premiere. In three years, she has written over 900 articles with topics ranging from classic sitcoms to fantasy epics. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us Like Like follow Follow followed Followed Listen Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap The Lord of the Rings has made a name for itself on the page and on screen alike, and while the trilogy is one of the best book-to-movie adaptations , it does make changes. Fans can point to many examples, and they do; however, Peter Jackson 's film's alterations to one of J. R. R. Tolkien 's characters stand out. Of course, many have a lot to say about the portrayal of Faramir ( David Wenham ), whose temptation by the One Ring is the exact opposite of the books, but there is a more significant character whom the films drastically change.
Aragorn ( Viggo Mortensen ) is one of the primary heroes of the series, and while he plays an instrumental role in both the books and the films, the adaptation fundamentally changes his character. In many ways, this change is less about what he does and more about how he does it, because in both versions, Aragorn is a member of the Fellowship, the leader of the Armies of Men, and the rightful ruler of Gondor and Arnor. Yet, the films add a reluctance to his character that Tolkien never established and expand certain aspects of his story. The result works for the films, and Mortensen's Aragorn is understandably a fan favorite, yet it's important to recognize that he isn't exactly like the character Tolkien wrote.
Custom image of Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in Lord of the Rings Image by Nimesh Niyomal Aragorn is an important character for many reasons, but one major element of his story is his family's position. As Isildur's Heir, he has heavy expectations placed on his shoulders, and in the films, he is reluctant to accept that . Aragorn says as much to Arwen ( Liv Tyler ) in The Fellowship of the Ring . Though she points out that he is not his ancestor, Aragorn says, " The same blood runs through my veins. The same weakness ." This feeling adds an emotional journey as the character slowly accepts his role, proving his worthiness to himself more than anyone else. Plagued by self-doubt throughout the films, Aragorn becomes a brooding character, which is far from how Tolkien intended.
The reluctant hero is a much-loved character trope, but originally Aragorn is far more confident. Tolkien's version is proud of the legacy he holds and intends to claim his position as King, though he prioritizes destroying the One Ring. This change is most obvious when the Fellowship arrives in Rohan and Aragorn, reluctant to surrender his weapon, cites his ancestry as a reason he shouldn't need to. While this fits Aragorn's book personality, film Aragorn would never consider sharing his family history so readily. Aragorn's change in attitude doesn't alter the overall plot, but it does make…