Elijah Wood Gives Coy Response Regarding Frodo’s Return In ‘The Hunt For Gollum’
The Shire may not have seen the last of its most famous ring-bearer. Elijah Wood, the actor who immortalized Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, has offered a tantalizing, albeit cryptic, update regarding his potential involvement in the upcoming film, The Hunt for Gollum. Speaking at Fan Expo New Orleans, Wood addressed the swirling rumors with a mix of humor and evasion that has only fueled fan speculation about a reunion of the Fellowship.
While stopping short of an official confirmation, Wood’s comments—and his reference to a certain wizard—suggest that audiences might indeed see Frodo Baggins on the big screen once more.
Elijah Wood: “A Wizard Is to Be Trusted”
The speculation surrounding Frodo’s return reached a fever pitch last year when Sir Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf, seemingly let slip that both his character and Wood’s Frodo would appear in the new film. When asked about McKellen’s comments, Wood played coy but offered a significant hint.
“I can neither confirm nor deny,” Wood said. “Listen, a wizard is to be trusted.”
This playful nod to McKellen’s earlier “slip” is the closest thing to a confirmation fans have received. By invoking the trustworthiness of Gandalf, Wood seemingly validated his co-star’s comments without breaking any non-disclosure agreements. He further elaborated on the constraints he is currently under regarding official announcements.
“Aside from any of that, I’m not really allowed to confirm,” Wood added. “I’m really excited about the film. I think it really is a creative ‘getting the band back together.’ A lot of the creative heads of department are back and in that space again.”
Getting the Band Back Together
Whether or not Frodo appears in a cameo or a significant role, Wood expressed genuine enthusiasm for the project’s direction. The Hunt for Gollum represents a major reunion for the creative team that defined cinematic fantasy in the early 2000s.
Peter Jackson returns as a producer, alongside his longtime collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who are writing and producing. Perhaps most exciting for Wood is the man sitting in the director’s chair: Andy Serkis. Serkis, who revolutionized motion capture performance as Gollum, will direct the film while reprising his iconic role.
“I’m excited for Andy to direct it,” Wood said. “It feels so unbelievably appropriate that he directs a film about his character that he has really made his own. I’m thrilled. It’ll be great.”
Wood described the project as a “fun exploration” of the Gollum character, noting that having the “core original group” back together ensures the new film will maintain the spirit and quality of the original trilogy.
What is The Hunt for Gollum?
Warner Bros. officially announced The Hunt for Gollum in the summer of 2024. The film is set to explore a specific, previously untold chapter of Middle-earth history. According to Philippa Boyens, the narrative takes place during the timeframe between Bilbo Baggins’ 111th birthday party (the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring) and the Fellowship’s journey into the Mines of Moria.
This specific window of time is crucial in J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore. It covers the period where Gandalf and Aragorn are desperately searching for Gollum to prevent him from revealing the location of the One Ring to Sauron. Given this timeline, an appearance by Frodo Baggins is entirely plausible, as he would be living in the Shire with the Ring during these years.
The film was originally slated for a 2026 release but has since been pushed to December 17, 2027, allowing the creative team ample time to perfect the return to Middle-earth.
A Broader Cinematic Universe
Wood also touched on the future of the franchise, hinting that The Hunt for Gollum is just the beginning of a renewed focus on Tolkien’s world.
“I know their intention is to make other films in this universe,” Wood remarked. “And that’s exciting, interesting to see where that goes, but very exciting.”
Warner Bros. has made it clear that it intends to expand the Lord of the Rings cinematic universe. By bringing back beloved legacy characters like Gollum and potentially Gandalf and Frodo, the studio is bridging the gap between nostalgia and new storytelling.
For fans, the prospect of seeing Elijah Wood don the hobbit feet one more time is a powerful draw. His portrayal of Frodo anchored the emotional weight of the original trilogy, and even a brief appearance would serve as a poignant connection to the films that started it all. If Gandalf is to be trusted—and Elijah Wood suggests he is—then the journey to Mordor may have one more chapter left to tell.
