Elijah Wood, the actor who portrayed Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, addressed persistent rumors about his potential involvement in the forthcoming film centered on Gollum. He spoke about the matter in an interview with the Sunday Times, offering cautious optimism without confirming anything officially.
When asked directly whether he would return to the role of Frodo, Wood responded with a veiled affirmation: "There was no official announcement, but at the convention last August Ian [McKellen] sort of let the cat out of the bag. So there's a pretty good chance. I can't officially say anything until there's an announcement, but I'll say that I'm excited about the prospect of a new film." He also made clear that he would prefer not to see another actor take on Frodo while he is still alive and able to perform the role himself.
The new film, titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, is scheduled to premiere on 17 December 2027. Veteran performer Andy Serkis, who originally brought Gollum to life in the earlier trilogy, is set to direct the picture and to portray Gollum once again.
Earlier reporting from August 2025 indicated that Ian McKellen had hinted that both he and Wood might return to their iconic roles, a remark that appears to have contributed to the current wave of speculation. Wood’s recent comments reinforce that while enthusiasm exists, any official confirmation must come from formal announcements.
For now, fans can take Wood’s remarks as an encouraging signal rather than a confirmed casting decision: he expressed clear excitement about the project but emphasized the need to wait for official word before anything is considered final.