Elijah Wood has expressed hope that no-one else plays the role of Frodo Baggins while he’s “alive and able”.
The actor famously portrayed the protagonist Hobbit in Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings trilogy, also reprising the part in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and is rumoured to be reprising the part for new film The Hunt For Gollum.
Set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings, the new Andy Serkis-directed film will focus on a younger Aragorn’s search for the titular creature in order to prevent the location of the One Ring reaching villain Sauron.
Ian McKellen previously hinted that he would return as Gandalf, while rumours have also surfaced over Wood’s involvement too.
Heavily hinting at an appearance, the Frodo actor told The Times: “It hasn’t been officially announced, but at a convention last August, Ian sort of let the cat out of the bag. 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.
“It’s always a little nerve-racking when people talk about new movies for a world like Middle-earth. 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.
“I’m just excited,” he added, before responding to McKellen saying he wouldn’t allow another actor to play Gandalf.
“Well, no, and I totally get that,” Wood said. “I certainly wouldn’t want anybody else to play Frodo either as long as I’m alive and able. And I can also recognise what fun that is going to be — when you are in the cinema and you see the hat turn around and it’s Gandalf. Because I’m also a fan, and excited to see how it all comes together.”
They aren’t the only original Lord Of The Rings cast members to express disapproval of another actor taking on their roles, with Orlando Bloom saying last year that he would “hate” to see another star as Legolas.
“Listen, I’d hate to see anyone else play Legolas, you know what I mean?” he told Today. “What are they going to do? Are they going to put somebody else in as Legolas? With AI, they can do anything these days!”
Meanwhile, it was reported last year that the role of Aragorn will be recast in The Hunt For Gollum, with Viggo Mortensen not returning after de-aging technology was ruled out.
The film, due out at Christmas 2027, will see Serkis return as Gollum alongside directing, while original trilogy writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens will pen the screenplay with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou, and Jackson is on board as a producer.
In other news, last year Wood crashed a Lord Of The Rings-themed wedding in New Zealand, which took place on the Hobbiton film set.