It's been over two decades since Elijah Wood played Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings movie series, directed by Andy Serkis, but even if a new set of LOTR projects are to come, the actor has firmly stated that he doesn't want anyone to play his iconic role.
Ian McKellen, the actor behind Gandalf, teased a new Lord of the Rings movie on Gollum at a fan event for the film series in London. Although Wood remained tight lipped on the details regarding the new film and whether he would reprise his role, he did open up on his feelings on fresh projects in the franchise. "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," he explained.
The new film titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, starring and directed by Andy Serkis, is scheduled for release on December 17, 2027. It tells the story of what happened between the end of The Hobbit prequel trilogy and the beginning of The Lord of the Rings.
Frodo neither confirmed nor denied about his casting in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, but he did clearly emphasise that he wouldn't want anyone portraying Frodo other than himself. Speaking in context to Ian McKellen not wanting other actors playing Gandalf, Wood echoed his sentiments, saying, "I totally get that. 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 Gandalf. Because I’m also a fan, and excited to see how it all comes together."
Wood played Frodo in all three films of The Lord of the Rings based on the books by JRR Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003). Wood reprised his role in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012).
