While he didn't come right out and say it, it looks like Elijah Wood WILL be reprising the role of Frodo Baggins in upcoming spin-off Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
During the promo tour for his new horror movie Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, the actor candidly stated that he "wouldn't want anybody else" playing the beloved hobbit "as long as [he's] alive and able."
Wood's comments arrive just days after reports of Leo Woodall (One Day, The White Lotus) taking over from Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn emerged online. Fleshing out a backstory merely hinted at in Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring, Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum would focus on Aragorn and Gandalf's quest to catch up to Sméagol – and learn more about the all-powerful One Ring.
Since it's a prequel, and Aragorn isn't ageless like the elves, it makes sense for the character to be played by a younger actor. But with Gandalf being effectively immortal and hobbits known to have much longer lifespans than regular men, the fantasy flick can get away with keeping McKellen and Wood on board.
"It is a phenomenal challenge, exciting and of course terrifying at the same time," director Andy Serkis, who'll also be back as Gollum, told Empire magazine previously. "We have a very specific task ahead of us. A return to Middle-earth that satisfies the passion and the love that generations of Lord of the Rings fans have for these stories, whilst also presenting something completely fresh and new for first-timers to Middle-earth, with one of Tolkien's richest and most complex characters at its heart."
Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is currently eyeing a December 17, 2027 release. While we wait, check out our picks of the most exciting upcoming movies heading our way.
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