How Lord of the Rings’ Ben Barnes Fancast Can Finally Happen

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As a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings, I’m really excited about Andy Serkis’ new film focusing on Gollum. It’s great to hear it will continue the story from Peter Jackson’s films. However, I was a little surprised to learn they’re recasting Aragorn! Viggo Mortensen is iconic, but people are already buzzing about who could fill those boots, and Ben Barnes seems to be the frontrunner according to a lot of fans – a lot of us think he’d be a fantastic choice.

The Narnia actor has also said he’d be interested in the role. In a video with the Daily Mail, he enthusiastically agreed, saying, “I want to do that… I love The Lord of the Rings. Yes, please.” While it’s unlikely he’ll be cast—the director probably wants a newer, less famous actor—he would be a great fit for another character in the Lord of the Rings world.

Isildur’s Brother Was Key to the History of Middle-earth

A central plotline in Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power focuses on the decline of Númenor, with Elendil and his son Isildur as key figures. The first season concluded with Elendil searching for his son, Anárion, along the shores of Númenor. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings, Anárion is expected to be a significant character, and actor Barnes would be an excellent choice to play him.

Anárion, along with his father and brother, was a leader who guided the last of the Faithful to Middle-earth. He and Isildur co-founded Gondor and ruled together until Anárion’s death in the War of the Last Alliance. When Elendil died, Isildur became King of Arnor, leaving Gondor to be ruled by Anárion’s son. Anárion was highly respected, and the city that would become Minas Tirith was originally named Minas Anor in his honor.

As a huge fan of the films, I’ve always seen parallels between Anárion and Aragorn, and I think it’s neat that the filmmakers let Barnes essentially play out a similar character arc. It’s fitting, really, since Anárion is, in a way, connected to that lineage too. And the marriage between Arvedui, descended from Isildur, and Fíriel, descended from Anárion, beautifully blends those royal bloodlines. Something I’ve often wondered about – since Anárion is ten years older than Isildur in the story, wouldn’t it make sense for him to have a bit of stubble, like Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn? I know Tolkien’s original writings say Númenóreans were clean-shaven, but a little beard feels right for the character’s age and position.

Like Aragorn, Anárion was a seasoned warrior who fought extensively against Sauron. While Isildur was away for five years, Anárion bravely defended the city of Osgiliath from Sauron’s relentless attacks. Because Anárion hasn’t been portrayed in films or TV shows yet, casting a well-known actor like Karl Urban in the role wouldn’t feel out of place, similar to the potential for Aragorn.

The Rings of Power’s Version of Anárion is Still Shrouded in Mystery

Production on the third season of The Rings of Power is finished, meaning any casting of actor Charlie Barnes as Anárion has been kept under wraps. While Eddie Marsan, Zubin Varla, Adam Young, and Andrew Richardson have been announced as new cast members, their roles—including the possibility of Richardson playing Anárion—haven’t been officially confirmed, so everything is still uncertain.

Even if we don’t see Barnes in The Hunt for Gollum or the next season of The Rings of Power, he should appear in the franchise eventually. Considering C.S. Lewis, the writer of The Chronicles of Narnia, it would be a nice tribute to the early fantasy authors to have an actor who’s been in both Narnia and Middle-earth projects.

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2026-01-28 06:40