As franchises expand and endure, they all come to face the same issue of what happens when an iconic role is so thoroughly embodied by a character: the challenge of finding someone else to do it that’ll be accepted by fans. Patrick Stewart and Charles Xavier, Harrison Ford and Han Solo, Ian McKellen and Gandalf (and Magneto, really, so especially good luck to Marvel’s X-Men going forward), there are plenty of examples. But one such example isn’t letting you have the debate at all yet: Elijah Wood.
With Wood’s legendary performance as Frodo Baggins turning 25 this year with the anniversary of Fellowship of the Ring‘s release, Wood is reflecting on his time with the character a lot lately—especially as it’s been all but confirmed that he will reprise the role once more in some capacity in the upcoming prequel/spinoff The Hunt for Gollum, marking the second time he’s redonned the hobbit feet since Lord of the Rings came to an end with Return of the King, having briefly cameoed in the Hobbit trilogy.
“It hasn’t been officially announced, but at a convention last August, Ian [McKellen] sort of let the cat out of the bag,” Wood recently told the Sunday Times of his involvement in the new film. “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.”
Wood himself, it turns out, is one of those people who gets protective—because he wants to be a hobbit for as long as he can. “I certainly wouldn’t want anybody else to play Frodo either as long as I’m alive and able. And 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 [McKellen as] Gandalf. Because I’m also a fan, and excited to see how it all comes together.”
Hunt for Gollum may have Wood and McKellen on board, but it’s already going to face the challenge of recasting an icon: there’s plenty of rumors swirling around that, after initial hopes, Viggo Mortensen will not return for the film as Aragorn, necessitating a recast. Time will tell just how well that’s received if it’s true (no doubt we’ll find out soon, given Hunt is currently expected to release at the end of 2027), but, at least if Wood himself has anything to say about it, we’ll see at least one familiar face whenever we return to the Shire for the foreseeable future.
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