When you consider the truth that Elijah Wooden spent practically a decade (between the unique shoot and re-shoots) enjoying the heroic hobbit Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, it is comprehensible that he is not excited in regards to the prospect of seeing another person play this function. Actually, as he advised The Sunday Occasions, he particularly does not need that to occur.
“Properly, no, and I completely get that,” Wooden advised interviewer Jonathan Dean after the 2 mentioned Ian McKellen’s comparable resistance to seeing anybody however him play the wizened wizard Gandalf in future “Lord of the Rings” tasks (like, for instance, Andy Serkis’ forthcoming film “The Hunt for Gollum”). “I actually would not need anyone else to play Frodo both so long as I am alive and ready,” Wooden admitted. “And I can even acknowledge what enjoyable that’s going to be — if you find yourself within the cinema and also you see the hat flip round and it is Gandalf. As a result of I am additionally a fan, and excited to see the way it all comes collectively.”
Wooden has remained booked and busy since turning into one of many world’s most well-known actors through the heyday of the “Lord of the Rings” movies again within the 2000s. Between offbeat tasks like “Wilfred” and a very darkish look in “Sin Metropolis,” Wooden has additionally proven up in “Yellowjackets” (because the true crime obsessive Walter Tattersall) and, as of this writing, is making ready to make an impression within the extremely anticipated horror sequel “Prepared or Not 2: Right here I Come,” which he additionally mentioned with Dean. Nonetheless, it makes full sense that he would play Frodo once more earlier than he let anybody else snag the function. So, is he returning for the prequel “The Hunt for Gollum?” Wooden did not admit something outright, but it surely feels doubtless.
Will Ian McKellen and Elijah Wooden return for the upcoming Lord of the Rings film centered on Gollum?
Whereas talking to Jonathan Dean for the Sunday Occasions, Elijah Wooden totally admitted that the chances are good that each he and Ian McKellen could come again as Frodo Baggins and Gandalf for the prequel centering round Andy Serkis’ complicated villain Gollum. “It hasn’t been formally introduced, however at a conference final August, Ian form of let the cat out of the bag. So, there’s a good probability,” Wooden admitted. (Per Leisure Weekly, McKellen advised a conference crowd in August 2025, “There is a character within the film known as Frodo, and there is a character within the film known as Gandalf.”) He continued:
“I am not in a position to formally say something till it is introduced, however I’ll say I am thrilled with the prospect of one other movie. It is at all times a bit of nerve-racking when folks speak about new motion pictures for a world like Center-earth. Everybody will get a bit of protecting and hopes it retains its stage of integrity, however this story is enjoyable, thrilling. There’s a real feeling of getting the band again collectively.”
That is just like what Wooden advised ScreenRant in January 2026, the place he stated he can “neither verify nor deny” his involvement but additionally expressed his pleasure for the film total. “I feel it truly is a artistic ‘getting the band again collectively,'” Wooden stated, referencing the truth that Serkis and “Rings” trilogy co-writer Philippa Boyens are each returning for the challenge. “It’s totally a lot that core authentic group getting again collectively to inform this story that can really feel like a very enjoyable exploration of this character that all of us love a lot,” Wooden concluded. “And I am simply actually excited.”
Elijah Wooden is true: Recasting any main roles in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy appears like a idiot’s errand
The entire motive Elijah Wooden weighed in on this recasting situation is that rumors not too long ago swirled that Leo Woodall — who can at the moment be seen in “Vladimir” alongside Rachel Weisz on Netflix — would possibly take over from Viggo Mortensen and play a youthful model of the ranger Aragorn. As a lot as I do admittedly dread seeing nice performers like Wooden and Ian McKellen doubtlessly be subjected to de-aging for the prequel, which I suppose will give us a extra in-depth take a look at the hobbit Smeagol’s darkish transformation into the covetous creature Gollum, I’ve to aspect with Wooden on one massive factor. We should not usher in a crowd of contemporary younger issues and totally recast the “Lord of the Rings” universe if we do not have to, as a result of the unique solid is simply unimpeachably good.
Alongside Wooden, McKellen, and Mortensen, you have received gems like John Rhys-Davies because the ferocious dwarf Gimli, Orlando Bloom because the ace Elven archer Legolas, and, in fact, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, and Sean Astin as Frodo’s fellow hobbit besties Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck, Peregin “Pippin” Took, and Samwise Gamgee, respectively. (These 4, particularly, are magic collectively on-screen and nonetheless semi-routinely have dinners out collectively the place they’re noticed by keen followers.) It may be a bit of unhappy to observe tasks we love be endlessly redone and recast, so so long as “The Hunt for Gollum” does not make both Wooden’s Frodo or McKellen’s Gandalf look utterly creepy with de-aging, I am on board for them to reprise their roles.
“The Hunt for Gollum” is about to launch in 2027, and we’ll have to attend and see if Wooden and McKellen actually do signal on as soon as extra.
