Viggo Mortensen Reveals His Unexpected Favorite Scene from Lord of the Rings: “It’s Truly Beautiful”

Viggo Mortensen, known for his role as Aragorn, recently shared his unexpected favorite scene from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, highlighting its simplicity with “no effects” and “no imaginary monsters.”

So, was it the iconic moment when Aragorn dramatically opens the doors at Helm’s Deep? Or perhaps his crowning in Return of the King? Surprisingly, it’s neither.

In a conversation reflecting on the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Mortensen revealed that the scene of Boromir’s death—one of Sean Bean’s most memorable moments—might just top them all.

“That scene, I have to say, no offense to anybody else or any other part of the trilogy, but that’s maybe my favorite scene. It’s such a beautiful scene,” Mortensen expressed.

He elaborated, “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.”

This particular moment, especially in the Extended Edition, is a poignant highlight of the trilogy, showcasing Boromir pledging loyalty to his “king” as he succumbs to his wounds, despite their earlier conflicts. He ultimately falls while defending Merry and Pippin from an Uruk-hai attack.

Looking ahead, we’ll be revisiting Middle-earth in 2027 with The Hunt for Gollum, though it remains unclear if Mortensen will reprise his role, even as the story centers on Aragorn’s pursuit of Gollum. The actor has previously expressed interest in returning, contingent on whether it fits his current age and the character’s needs.

“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,” Mortensen shared in a 2024 interview.

The Hunt for Gollum is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2027.