Washington: Renowned American actor and musician Viggo Mortensen recently opened up about his decision to steer clear of franchise films following his iconic role as Aragorn in Peter Jackson's acclaimed 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy (2001-2003). Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Mortensen emphasised his preference for roles that feature compelling narratives and well-crafted scripts, noting his belief that films within series "are not usually that good."

"I don't really look for or avoid any kind of genre or any size budget. I just look for interesting stories," Mortensen explained. "It doesn't matter to me what the genre is or what the budget is or who's making them. I would never do a movie just because so-and-so is directing it. It has to be about the story. And if I think I'm right for the character, that always comes first."

Also Read

placeholder

Dream pop band 'Cigarettes After Sex' to perform in major Indian cities on these dates

He continued, "That goes for franchises. If somebody came to me with X movie, the third part of the ninth part, and I thought it was a great character and I wanted to play that character and I thought I had something to contribute, I'd do it. I'm not against it. But they're not usually that good. I mean, to me, they're not usually that well-written. They're kind of predictable. I mean, of course, there's always the issue of if I run out of money."

While Mortensen remains widely recognized for his portrayal in the 'Lord of the Rings' saga, he disclosed last month that he was uncertain about reprising his role in Jackson's upcoming film slated for a 2026 release.

"I haven't read a script. So I don't know," the Captain Fantastic actor said of the upcoming Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. "The script is the most important thing to me unless I'm broke, I have no money and I'm lucky to get any job. So it depends," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Agencies