Attention Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, and Sean Astin: You’ve gone “There.” Now get ready to go “Back Again” - at least according to Elijah Wood’s conversations with “Hobbit” maestro Peter Jackson.
“I haven’t spoken to him directly about it [but] I’ve e-mailed him, and as far as I know the two films that they’re doing, one will be ‘The Hobbit’ and another will take place between the 60 years that happened between ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” the once and future Frodo enthused to MTV News, possibly confirming rumors that the second planned film would not be a Part II, but instead a narrative bridge.
Which means plenty of opportunities for all the stars of “LOTR” to reprise their famous characters in some capacity. None more so, perhaps, than Wood himself, who would arguably be a central figure along with Gandalf, Aragorn, Galadriel, and Gollum in any connecting story.
For his part, Wood, who next stars as a conscripted citizen in “Day Zero,” is positively thrilled at the possibility.
“If I’m asked to go back and revisit that character and it makes sense, I would love to. I would absolutely love to,” he said.
True, hard-core Tolkien aficionados could tell you that not much is known about Frodo in the intervening years between “The Hobbit” and “LOTR,” excepting, of course, his parents’ deaths and some conversations and journeys with Bilbo which are alluded to in the later legendarium.
That makes it all the more a guarantee that Wood would return, he declared.
“Nothing was really written with Frodo involved in it. That was sort of an ancillary tale outside of ‘Lord of the Rings.’ I can’t imagine that they [Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens] would write great reams of information regarding my character,” he said of necessary invention outside of Tolkien’s established canon. “But if he [Frodo] should show up, it would actually be the perfect way to revisit because it could be small enough that I could go back and have a nice sort of reunion with the memories that I have of the experience.”
As an actor, Wood is excited about the possibility of returning with Jackson to the world of Middle-earth. But he’s even more excited, he said, as a fan.
“It’s a great triumph [that Peter is involved.] I think that’s really important that the same team that worked on the [earlier] films [work on "The Hobbit"], the same effects team, that it be shot in New Zealand. I think that it’s important that Ian McKellen is cast as Gandalf, just so that there’s a synergy between the films,” he insisted. “I think people want it to exist in the same world. So at least now we are assured that it will be done through that same lens, which is great. It’s exciting.”
What do you think? Does the thought of there being a bridge film excite you as a fan? And how much of Frodo do you want to see? Sound off below.
If a 17 year old Elijah could play a 50 year old Frodo (which he did in the three movies) then a 28 year old Elijah can play a 17 year old Frodo.
I wonder how much weight he will have to gain back to look like the Hobbitt that he did at the beginning of the Fellowship of the Ring?
Anyway, I'm glad tat Elijah does not support simply "making up stuff for Frodo to do" (otherwise we'd run into Star Wars Prequel crud)...but instead pretty much what us the fans want; him appearing as basically just a few cameo scenes to establish his character.
Perhaps Wood could also appear as his father Drogo Baggins, who might appear at the end of "The Hobbit" itself during the auction scene at Bag End...then die in the "Appendix movie", have a child actor playing "Young Frodo" for the first half, but end with Elijah again as Frodo matures, near the end of the Appendix movie.
Or, Elijah as Drogo, as mentioned, would work,too- IMHO.
Also Please Peter Jackson direct THE Hobbit...
Namarie, God bless, Frodoholic (or more appropriate FrodoandSam-holic)
Does anybody know if he's fine? Did anybody ask him if he wants to play the part?
And don't tell, if he can, that they will not be able to transform him into a younger Bilbo, they can do anything they want these days.
Basically anyone from the original cast wants to go back to Middle Earth (PJ's Middle Earth, by the way) but we have not heard anything from the most important character in the story...
As for the Hobbit movie, I'm really looking forward to it, however, I am disappointed that Peter Jackson isn't returning to direct. I understand that he has other commitments, but still... . Nonetheless, it's clear they're keeping the bond between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and Jackson is taking on a producing role, so I'm mostly happy. Elvellon, I've always thought having Legolas appear in the Mirkwood scenes would be a good idea, maybe as one of the dwarves' captors. I don't think Ian Holm can return as Bilbo, due to his age, but Ian Mckellen should definitely reprise the role of Gandalf.
The bridging film is an interesting idea, but I don't know what they can put in it. We'll have to wait and see. It'll be difficult to construct a coherent narrative of those years.
I would also love to see Elrond return, Celeborn and Galadriel return for more.
There is mention of Elrond in The Hobbit, so I would expect him to be present. I wouldn't hold my breath for Celeborn and Galadriel. Elves just didn't play a huge part in the story.
But John Rhys-Davies can definitely play Thorin!
I'm just so excited that New Line got a clue and is letting Peter finish the story!
1. Visionary
2. ARTISTIC
3. He Reminds Me Of J.R.R Tolkien Who Know How To Write A Story AND Writing the ScreenPlay With His Teamate Phillipa Boyens & Fran Walsh Is Makes Them Unstoppable and Unique and Quality.
Peter If Your Reading This Righht Now I Admire Your Work and Creativity Is Beyond What I HAVE Seen In The Past 20 Years Within The Films.
Its Wonderful To See You Get Involved and Take The Time To Decide Of Direting This FILM "BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN THIS WORLD WANTS YOU DIRECT: THOUGH YOU HAVE OTHER PROJECTS ON THE WAY... WE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE WAITING WHEN THAT TIME COMES!!
The only fear in my mind would be that the greater public (the non-Ringers) would see the other two movies as overkill. I think of the last three pre-quels to Star Wars. I'm a Star Wars fan, and I was disappointed. Lucas didn't pay enough attention to how he was directing his actors. Episode II and III were great visually but were so awkward in drama.
I don't think Peter Jackson would make that kind of mistake directing, but there is the chance that some people may think "enough is enough". Sadly, for the non-ringers out there, the next two would have to be better than the trilogy in some respect. But, this is Peter Jackson and the LOTR cast and crew we're talking about it.
If they can't do it, no one can. Go for it guys. Ugh! I love you all!
And no, Ian Holm won't be able to manage the role of Bilbo. It's far too physical for someone his age, and makeup can only do so much.
My current favorite choice for Bilbo is James McAvoy. I've seen pictures of a young Ian Holm (check him out in Alien) and they look astonishingly similar.
Wood and the other hobbits probably wouldn't have roles either film, except perhaps to play their parents or other relatives.
However, I have a rather off-beat suggestion: I think Dominic Monaghan should play the voice of Smaug. Anyone who's heard him narrate the Ringers movie knows he has a rich, deep voice, and he's certainly capable of the kind of polite sarcasm of that character. Run him through some post-production sound tweaking, and boom, there's your dragon.
That said...I think I'm willing to trust that Peter Jackson and his crew would have the respect and reverence to make something good, if anyone would. I just hope he knows that if he ruins the story the millions of Lord of the Rings fans will most likely turn their backs and never look back.
and Billy Boyd as Beorn :)
Much better would be for the white council storyline etc. to be re inserted within the hobbit in the correct chronological place... Thus the defeat of dol guldur would form the cilmax of the first movie (with bilbo arriving at laketown) and the battle of 5 armies the climax of the second.
I'd be quite happy with Jackson doing this kind of thing, putting 'the hobbit' storyline in the larger context of middle earth/ precurser to LOTR.
But a bridge movie... no! Its not just that it doesn't make sense as a tolkein fan, its more that it doesn't make sense as a film
What I would like is similar to Will's comment even when he misspells Tolkien :P
But what is a MUST is that Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving and Orlando Bloom do their roles again. I know I know, Legolas' isn't really in the books but this has to done....and any more ranger!Viggo is a bonus =D
Off topic~
If they do make the bridge movie i think that instead of just making it one movie they should make it the basic histories of middle earth series. Since they are trying to make it so that the imagination gap that was left behind with the trilogy is limited, I find that if they were to make another 10 or so movies that it would ultimately destroy any hope of the creativity that the non-readers have come up with(e.g. the fantasy worlds people un-real things not based of books or such). I agree with the people on casting but otherwise meh.
By the way, since PJ isn't going to direct, I think it's almost a must that he get Guillermo Del Toro, who I think is the best visual story teller out there right now. The Devil's Backbone, Pan's Labyrinth, even the Hellboy movies... His style of dark, creepy atmosphere and unbelievably trippy creatures is PERFECT for the world of Middle Earth, especially for The Hobbit which is a lot more "fantasy" based than LOTR. What's more, he and PJ share their roots in horror movies. If GDT directs The Hobbit movies, I think they have a chance to surpass PJ's LOTR.
I have confidence that as long as PJ Fran and Philippa write the second movie, it will be great- and faithful to Tolkien!! Go PJ and go WETA!!
what a great idea!
hope peter jackson get to direct.
frodo lives!
Seize The Day!
-StrongJoy
Also, the idea of a bridge film, I think is a good idea, but a very hard one to be successful with. It's hard to add to such great works and not ruin or alter the original story or play it out. My overall opinion would be to cut the idea and stick to the original known story. Some things need to remain a mystery, and the years between should. It keeps us all wondering.
The idea of EW as Bilbo is better, but IMO someone else should do it.
Besides if Elijah would play Bilbo it wouldn't feel good to me.
I will always see Elijah as Frodo and not as Bilbo...
I think it would be great for the second film that all the fellowship made some kind of cameo so we could see their life before the ring, esp. Frodo' s life with Bilbo.
Can't wait for production to get started and i'm sure Ian would return as Gandalf.
Or make use of make-up to make EW look like Ian or even a digital face of him.
Furthermore Ian Mckellan should be Gandalf otherwise new "the Hobbit"'s wizard will confuse fans with two different wizards and future fans wouldn't make the connection between the wizards in "the Hobbit" and LOTR.