Lord of the Rings Iconic Prop Spotted in Recent Western – See It Now!

Amid speculations about a potential comeback for Aragorn in the upcoming Gollum-focused movie slated for 2026, Viggo Mortensen hasn’t completely left the “Lord of the Rings” behind. In his latest film, “To the Ends of the Earth,” released in 2023, eagle-eyed fans may spot a well-known object: the sword Andúril.

Since his journey in Middle-earth concluded, Viggo Mortensen has shifted away from large Hollywood productions, opting instead for more independent cinema and working with acclaimed directors like Tony Scott, Brian De Palma, and David Cronenberg. This artistic shift has allowed him to build a diverse and rich filmography.

In “To the Ends of the Earth,” the actor found himself at the helm of an ambitious project once again. In addition to playing the lead role, he also directed, wrote, produced, and even composed the music for the film!

The film’s story unfolds in the 1860s and follows Vivienne (played by Vicky Krieps), a free-spirited Franco-Canadian woman, who falls in love with Holger (Mortensen), a Danish rancher. However, their romance is disrupted by the outbreak of the Civil War, forcing Holger to enlist, leaving Vivienne to face her own trials alone.

Despite his shift toward more intimate filmmaking, Viggo Mortensen remains deeply connected to Tolkien’s universe. As a nod to his years in “The Lord of the Rings,” he included a brief cameo of Andúril (“Flame of the West” in Sindarin), the iconic sword of his character, Aragorn. Remember, initially named Narsil, it was the sword of Elendil, a lord of Númenor and Aragorn’s ancestor, before being reforged by the elves of Rivendell and renamed.

In an interview with GQ, the actor explained how the idea occurred: during a scene involving a knight, the team had prepared everything—horse, costume, accessories—except the weapon. That’s when he thought of a sword he kept at home…

“We had everything for this knight scene. We found this great spirited horse, the right type of saddle, we had crafted a sort of medieval blanket, and we had the knight’s costume. Everything was fine, then I said, ‘Well, we should have a sword,’” he recounted.

Aware that fans might recognize it, he wanted to do things by the book:

“I looked around, and there were good ones, but I thought maybe it would be nice to use the one I had because it’s really good. But I knew I would need to ask for permission because I was sure someone would notice it, even if you only see it for a few seconds, it’s not really essential to the scene and certainly not to the film, it’s just something that appears and you see it or not.”

He thus contacted Peter Jackson, who gave his blessing, provided it didn’t disrupt the plot. Viggo Mortensen then obtained approval from the “Lord of the Rings” production, who were understanding and accepted this subtle nod.

“So I asked Peter Jackson if he was okay with it, and he said, ‘Is it very important to the story?’ I said, ‘No, it’s not. You barely notice it, but someone will probably notice.’ He said that was fine but that I should ask the film company. So I contacted them, and they agreed. They realized it wasn’t essential, that it wouldn’t draw much attention. They were very nice about it, and they gave us permission. That’s why we did it, just because it felt right. It was kind of a last-minute accident.”

A Return to the World of Gollum?

Asked about the subject, Viggo Mortensen does not rule out a possible return to the universe that brought him to the public’s attention, with the next film, “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” directed by Andy Serkis and scheduled for 2027.

“I don’t know exactly what the story is, I haven’t heard about it. Maybe I’ll hear about it one day. I enjoyed playing that character. I learned a lot from playing him, and I really enjoyed it,” he said in the same interview with GQ.

However, he made it clear that his enthusiasm is tempered with realism, stating he would only take part if the script aligns with his current age: “I’d only do it if it’s feasible, given my current age. I’d only do it if I fit the character. It would be foolish otherwise.”

“To the Ends of the Earth” was released in theaters in France on May 1, 2024, and is now available on VOD.

As for the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, it remains available on Prime Video, for those who wish to see Aragorn wielding Andúril once more.