Elijah Wood Says ‘I’m Not Allowed to Confirm’ Frodo’s Return in ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ and ‘Their Intention Is to Make Other Films’ in ‘Lord of the Rings’ Universe

Is Elijah Wood returning as Frodo in the new “Lord of the Rings” movie “The Hunt for Gollum”? Don’t ask Elijah Wood, even though his co-star Ian McKellen let it slip last year that Frodo and Gandalf would be back on the big screen when Middle-Earth returns to movie theaters in 2027.

“I can neither confirm nor deny. Listen, a wizard is to be trusted,” Wood told ScreenRant at Fan Expo New Orleans, teasing that McKellen’s slip is likely accurate. “Aside from any of that, I’m not really allowed to confirm. 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. Philippa [Boyens] I think, is co-writing it and producing it. It’s very much that core original group getting back together to tell this story that will feel like a really fun exploration of this character that we all love so much. And I’m just really excited.

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“I’m excited for Andy [Serkis] to direct it,” Wood continued. “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. And I’m excited to see… I know their intention is to make other films in this universe. And that’s exciting, interesting to see where that goes, but very exciting.”

Warner Bros. first announced “The Hunt for Gollum” in summer 2024 and originally said it would be ready for theaters in 2026. It then got delayed to December 2027. Serkis is directing the tentpole and once again starring in the title role, which he’s been playing via motion capture since 2002’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.” Serkis’ directorial efforts include “Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle” and “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.”

Peter Jackson, who directed “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies, is producing “The Hunt for Gollum” with longtime “Rings” collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Warner Bros. stressed when announcing “Gollum” that the trio “will be involved every step of the way.”

Boyens previously told Empire magazine that “The Hunt for Gollum” is “quite an intense story” that “falls after the birthday party of Bilbo and before the Mines of Moria. It’s a specific chunk of incredible untold story, told through the perspective of this incredible creature.”

Serkis confirmed to Metro last year that he arrived in New Zealand in September to begin pre-production on the tentpole. He added at the time: “I’m thrilled to return to the family that I’ve loved working with for many years, and a character that I cannot escape from.”

“The Hunt for Gollum” will open in theaters Dec. 17, 2027.