Middle-earth is one of those rare places audiences never really leave. More than two decades on, The Lord of the Rings remains a cultural touchstone, quoted at weddings, debated in forums, and revisited whenever comfort cinema calls. If you have watched the films closely, you already know Viggo Mortensen brought an almost feral commitment to Aragorn. 

Broken toes, real swords, lived-in armor. But what happened off camera, often by accident, is just as fascinating as what made it onscreen.

One of the most telling behind-the-scenes stories from The Fellowship of the Ring is hidden in plain sight within the Mines of Moria sequence. The scene, which places Aragorn at the forefront as the Fellowship navigates the ruined Dwarven kingdom, was filmed with Viggo Mortensen largely framed in profile. Shortly before shooting, Mortensen had been surfing during a break in production when his board struck him in the face, leaving him with a severely swollen black eye. This is what Peter Jackson recalled recently. 

“He comes in, and his eye is bulged out, black eye, shut, like a boxer swollen,” Jackson recalled to Entertainment Weekly.

“I couldn’t shoot [him] head on. So all I could do was shoot him from the side,” he added. As Jackson revealed, the injury forced immediate adjustments on set.

The situation was complicated by the trilogy’s unconventional production schedule. Jackson explained to EW that all three Lord of the Rings films were shot simultaneously, with scenes filmed out of narrative order depending on sets and actor availability.

“We shot all three of them at the same time and then in a mixed-up kind of way,” he said. Because the Mines of Moria sequence fell into that rotation, there was no opportunity to delay filming until Mortensen healed.

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Details like this add new texture to the films and arrive at a moment when The Lord of the Rings is returning to theaters, inviting audiences to experience Middle-earth again on the big screen.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy has been rolling out in theatrical re-releases worldwide, on January 16-18 and 23-25, 2026. With extended editions frequently screened in premium formats across major chains such as AMC, Regal, and select IMAX locations, depending on region. These events are designed for fans who want to experience Middle-earth communally again, complete with restored visuals and immersive sound.

Beyond nostalgia, the franchise is also looking ahead. Viggo Mortensen portrayed Aragorn across all three films, and the world of Tolkien is expanding once more. Peter Jackson is returning as producer on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis. The film is slated to begin production this year with a December 2027 theatrical release. 

It is details like a hidden black eye in Moria that remind us why these films endure: every frame carries history. Rewatch closely, and Middle-earth always has another story to tell.

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Share your thoughts, did you ever notice Aragorn’s careful angles before?