Elijah Wood Comments on Frodo’s Potential Return in Stephen Colbert’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie

Elijah Wood has responded to speculation about his possible return as Frodo Baggins in Stephen Colbert’s upcoming Lord of the Rings project, but his remarks do not confirm anything just yet.

In an interview with The Direct while promoting his new animated series Among Us, Wood emphasized that no official plans are in place for the film titled Shadows of the Past. He expressed surprise at the online casting rumors, stating that the project is still in its early phases. “Okay. Well, it hasn’t… We’re not there yet,” Wood remarked when asked about his potential involvement.

The film is reportedly being developed by late-night host Stephen Colbert, his son Peter McGee, and original Lord of the Rings writer Philippa Boyens. It is said to delve into the “Fogs on the Barrow-downs” chapter from J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore, a segment that was not included in Peter Jackson’s original trilogy.

This detail has led to speculation that beloved characters like Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin might make a return. Early online listings even hinted at the involvement of Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd, although Wood clarified that nothing has been confirmed.

He explained that the intention behind the project is to explore elements of The Fellowship of the Ring that were omitted from the films. According to Wood, these sections were cut because they would have slowed the narrative pace on the way to Bree.

“Okay. Well, it hasn’t… We’re not there yet… But listen, I think the implication is that the stories that Stephen wants to tell, which are the six chapters that were not committed to film in Fellowship of the Ring… it just would have taken a long time to get to Bree,” he noted.

While he is not officially attached to the project yet, Wood did not rule out the possibility of returning. He expressed excitement about the concept, which will depend on how the script evolves and whether the project is greenlit.

“But certainly in theory, yeah,” he replied when asked about the possibility of reprising Frodo. He praised the creative team involved, adding, “It’s in the best Tolkien scholarly hands.”

The project is still in development at Warner Bros., with no confirmed release date or official casting announcements. There are also reports suggesting that Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh are on board as producers, though the film has yet to receive production approval.

In addition, another Lord of the Rings project titled The Hunt for Gollum is also in the works, directed by Andy Serkis. Wood is rumored to be involved in that film, which is expected to focus on Gollum’s narrative and the events leading up to The Fellowship of the Ring.

Wood has previously mentioned that The Hunt for Gollum could feature multiple familiar faces and cameo appearances, although specifics remain vague.

For now, the return of Frodo Baggins is merely a possibility. Wood’s comments indicate that while he is open to revisiting the role, progress will hinge on the completion of the script and the project’s official approval.

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