Will Frodo return? Elijah Wood gives cryptic update on ‘Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’

Elijah Wood has fuelled fresh speculation about a possible return to Middle-earth after giving a deliberately vague response when asked whether he will reprise his iconic role as Frodo Baggins in the upcoming The Hunt for Gollum.

The actor, who played Frodo in the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, was attending Fan Expo New Orleans when fans pressed him on whether he would appear in the new instalment, which is set to expand the beloved fantasy universe.

“I can neither confirm nor deny,” Wood said, smiling, before adding, “Listen, a wizard is to be trusted.”

The comment immediately set social media alight, with fans dissecting his words for hidden meaning and wondering whether Frodo’s story is about to continue.

The Hunt for Gollum will be directed by Andy Serkis, who famously brought the tortured creature to life using motion-capture technology in both the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Serkis will once again portray Gollum, while original trilogy director Peter Jackson is returning as a producer alongside long-time collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf in the original films, previously hinted that the story would feature characters named Frodo and Gandalf, though he stopped short of confirming whether the original actors would return or if younger versions would be recast.

Wood did little to clear things up, saying he was “not really allowed to confirm” anything but expressed strong enthusiasm for the project.

“I think it really is a creative getting-the-band-back-together moment,” he said. “A lot of the original creative team are involved again. Philippa Boyens is co-writing and producing, and it really feels like that core group returning to tell a story that fans are going to love.”

He added that Serkis directing a film centred on Gollum feels “unbelievably appropriate”.

“I’m thrilled. I’m excited to see what they do with it. And I know their intention is to make more films in this universe, which is incredibly exciting.”

According to Boyens, the new film will explore an untold chapter of Middle-earth history, set between Bilbo’s birthday party in The Fellowship of the Ring and the group’s journey to the Mines of Moria.

“It’s quite an intense story,” she previously said. “It’s a specific chunk of incredible untold history, told through the perspective of this incredible creature.”

The original Lord of the Rings trilogy, released between 2001 and 2003, remains one of the most successful and beloved franchises in cinema history, grossing billions worldwide and winning a combined 17 Academy Awards. The later Hobbit trilogy also proved to be a global box office phenomenon.

The Hunt for Gollum is currently scheduled for release in December 2027, but with Wood’s carefully worded comments now circulating online, fans are more convinced than ever that Frodo’s journey might not be over just yet.