Orlando Bloom has weighed in on the prospect of returning as his iconic character Legolas in Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, outlining a clear vision for how the elf would fit into the story.
Set to release on December 17, 2027, The Hunt for Gollum is confirmed to feature director Andy Serkis reprising his role as the titular character. As the title implies, the film will explore Gollum’s adventures during the years between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Could other cast members from the original trilogy follow suit? In a recent interview with MovieWeb to promote his new movie Deep Cover, 48-year-old Bloom revealed he is very interested in Legolas returning for The Hunt for Gollum. However, he noted that the character would need to appear at the same age as he did in the original films. To achieve this look, the production team will likely rely on AI-driven de-aging technology.
"I think first of all, I’d like to see \[Legolas\] the same age as he was \[in the original trilogy\]," Bloom explained. "So, AI would have to come into play. I think I’d like to see him lithe and breezy and warrior-like so AI would have to come into play."And if they asked me, I would say, ‘Absolutely!’ It would be such a blast to return to New Zealand and spend whatever time is required there. Honestly, if you could be anywhere in the world right now, New Zealand is definitely the place."
Bloom first portrayed Legolas in 2001’s beloved The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring at age 24. With 24 years having passed since then, is a return realistic? We do know that Hunt for Gollum will feature several returning stars, including Gandalf. Sir Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf in the original trilogy and is now 86, has stated he would be open to returning as the wizard, provided his age doesn’t become an issue. Additionally, Aragorn actor Viggo Mortensen has also expressed openness to a return.
The Lord of the Rings Movies in (Chronological) Order
View 7 Images
This week, Serkis shared insights into the tone fans can expect from The Hunt for Gollum and provided an update on when principal photography will commence. Warner Bros. has confirmed that The Hunt for Gollum is actually the first of two new feature films directed by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, as the studio looks to expand the franchise further.
Amazon continues to keep interest in Lord of the Rings high with its Prime Video series The Rings of Power, which is currently working on Season 3. Meanwhile, within Tolkien's universe sits The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an animated film that premiered last December.
