Viggo Mortensen Explains Why He Turned Down Iconic Superhero Role

Viggo Mortensen has always been known for picking projects that feel right to him rather than chasing blockbuster opportunities. That mindset has guided his career across small films and huge hits like The Lord of the Rings.

In a recent interview, Mortensen reflected on a major role he chose not to take early on. He revealed that he was once offered the chance to play Wolverine in X-Men. The character would later make Hugh Jackman a global star.

Mortensen explained that the long-term commitment worried him. “The thing that bothered me at the time was just the commitment of endless movies of that same character over and over,” he said.

He didn’t go to the meeting alone. His young son Henry, who loved comic books, came with him to meet the director.

Henry quickly pointed out that some parts of the script didn’t match the comics. “This is wrong. That’s not how it is,” Henry told him. Mortensen recalled how the meeting turned into a back-and-forth about the changes, with the director trying to defend the choices.

Afterward, father and son agreed the role wasn’t right. Mortensen decided to walk away, saying he wasn’t ready to tie himself to years of playing the same character. Ironically, not long after, he signed on for three Lord of the Rings films as Aragorn. He laughed about the twist in hindsight, saying, “And then a couple of years later I’m doing three Lord of the Rings, so who knows.”

Looking back, Mortensen has no regrets. He praised Hugh Jackman’s performance, saying, “I think he did great, I’m sure no one can imagine anyone doing it better than he did.”

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