Orlando Bloom has shared his thoughts on potentially returning to his iconic role as Legolas in the upcoming film "Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum," outlining a clear vision for the character's potential portrayal.
Scheduled for release on December 17, 2027, "The Hunt for Gollum" will feature Andy Serkis both directing and reprising his role as Gollum, as the title indicates. The film will explore Gollum's activities during the period between "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings."
Could other actors from the original trilogy also make a comeback? In a recent interview with MovieWeb promoting his new movie "Deep Cover," the 48-year-old Bloom discussed the possibility of Legolas appearing in "The Hunt for Gollum." He expressed strong enthusiasm for the idea, noting that for Legolas to appear as he did in the original trilogy, the filmmakers would likely need to utilize AI de-aging technology.
"First and foremost, I would want to see [Legolas] at the same age he was in the original trilogy," Bloom stated. "That would require AI to come into play. I'd like to see him agile, light on his feet, and every bit the warrior—so yes, AI would be necessary."
"If they asked me, my answer would be an emphatic 'Absolutely!' It would be a joy to return to New Zealand and film for as long as they need. Honestly, there's no better place in the world to be right now than New Zealand."
Bloom first portrayed Legolas at age 24 in the 2001 classic "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." Now, 24 years later, is a return feasible for the character? It's confirmed that "Hunt for Gollum" will see the return of several familiar characters, including Gandalf. Sir Ian McKellen, 86, who originally played the wizard, has mentioned he is open to returning provided his health allows. Similarly, Aragorn actor Viggo Mortensen has expressed interest in a comeback.
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This week, Serkis provided some insight into the expected tone of "The Hunt for Gollum" and offered an update on the start of filming. Warner Bros. has announced that this film is the first of two new Lord of the Rings features from Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, as the studio seeks to expand the franchise.
Amazon has continued to fuel interest in the franchise with its Prime Video series The Rings of Power, which is currently in production for its third season. Another recent Tolkien adaptation is the animated film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, which was released in December.
