Nearly a quarter-century after first stepping into the Shire, Elijah Wood isn’t ready to hang up Frodo Baggins’ cloak just yet. The 45-year-old actor recently opened up about the possibility of returning to Middle-earth for the upcoming film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
Elijah Wood on Frodo’s return in The Hunt for Gollum
Directed by Andy Serkis and slated for a 2027 release, The Hunt for Gollum will explore events between the end of The Hobbit trilogy and the beginning of The Lord of the Rings. While Elijah Wood remains tight-lipped about official confirmation, he didn’t exactly shut down speculation during a recent interview with The Times U.K.
“It hasn’t been officially announced, but at a convention last August, Ian sort of let the cat out of the bag,” Wood said, referring to co-star Ian McKellen’s earlier teasing. “So there is a good chance. I’m not able to officially say anything until it’s announced, but I will say I’m thrilled with the prospect of another film.”
The actor emphasized that returning to J.R.R. Tolkien’s world comes with understandable apprehension from fans. “Everyone gets a little protective and hopes it retains its level of integrity, but this story is fun, thrilling. There is a genuine feeling of getting the band back together.”
When the interviewer noted that McKellen previously stated he wouldn’t allow anyone else to play Gandalf, Wood fully endorsed the sentiment and applied it to his own iconic role. “Well, no, and I totally get that,” Wood explained. “I certainly wouldn’t want anybody else to play Frodo either as long as I’m alive and able.”
Elijah Wood first brought Frodo to life in 2001’s The Fellowship of the Ring before reprising the role in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. He views potential returns through the eyes of both a performer and a fan. “I can also recognize what fun that is going to be—when you are in the cinema and you see the hat turn around and it’s Gandalf,” Wood added. “Because I’m also a fan, and excited to see how it all comes together.”
For now, fans eagerly await official casting announcements.
