Elijah Wood, the man who has played Frodo Baggins with unwavering dedication, has expressed his desire to remain the sole face of the iconic character throughout his lifetime, should the opportunity arise. Although his involvement in the upcoming film, "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum," has yet to be officially confirmed, the actor—who starred in the entire "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy—has made it clear that he intends to be the only one to embody Frodo Baggins. In an interview with "The Sunday Times" on March 6, the 45-year-old actor said, "As long as I'm alive and able, I certainly wouldn't want anyone else to play Frodo."
These comments come amidst rumors that Leo Woodall might take over the role of Aragorn from Elijah's costar, Viggo Mortensen, in the new film. However, Elijah isn't the only actor who has shown territorial tendencies towards their "Lord of the Rings" role. In fact, his costar, Sir Ian McKellen, felt the same way and agreed to reprise his role as Gandalf in "The Hunt for Gollum" to ensure no one else played the part. "I totally get that," Elijah told the outlet, before discussing his potential involvement in the new film. "It hasn't been officially announced, but at a convention last August, Ian sort of let the cat out of the bag."
Regarding his own prospects, the "Yellowjackets" actor noted, "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 "Hunt for Gollum" is set to take place shortly before the main events of the first "LOTR" film, "The Fellowship of the Ring," as revealed by screenwriter Philippa Boyens. Original franchise director Peter Jackson is set to produce, while Andy Serkis—who plays Gollum—will be directing. "It's quite an intense story, which falls after the birthday party of Bilbo and before the Mines of Moria," Philippa explained. "It's a specific chunk of incredible untold story, told through the perspective of this incredible creature."
With the new movie slated for release in December 2027, Elijah is hopeful that the casting and story will satisfy longtime fans, especially given that both Peter and Andy are onboard. "It's always a little nerve-racking when people talk about new movies for a world like Middle-earth," he said. "Everyone gets a little protective and hopes it retains its level of integrity, but this story is fun and thrilling. There is a genuine feeling of getting the band back together."
"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 Gandalf," he added. "Because I'm also a fan, and I'm excited to see how it all comes together."
