In this picture, Hu go Weaving is probably getting an offer to star in The Hunt for Gollum. Image source: New Line Cinema
The Hunt for Gollum is supposed to herald the big comeback for The Lord of the Rings on the big screen. Not only is Peter Jackson back on board as producer, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are also working on the script, as they did with the legendary film trilogy.
But we’ll probably have to do without a familiar face. Because Elrond actor Hugo Weaving leaves little doubt that he has finished Middle-earth forever.
I’ve had enough of it
In conversation with GamesRadar The British-Australian character actor doesn’t even bother to hide his reluctance to have the elf ears glued on again. But read for yourself:
Personally, I’ve had enough of it. It was great to be back in New Zealand over a period of ten years. […] So I’ve had enough of Middle Earth and can’t imagine anyone asking me to do it again.
And even if Hugo Weaving wants to hop around New Zealand as a half-elf again, In his opinion, there is another big problem that is impossible to solve:
Elrond is said to be immortal and I age. Elrond is one of the few characters – I think there are only three or four of them – who appears in The Silmarillion, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
But even when we went back to reshoot certain parts of Lord of the Rings, I was aware that I was older than before. And filming The Hobbit was starting to get a little silly. I loved being a part of this franchise, but I have absolutely no plans or desire to be a part of it anymore.
Where we already are Evil
and Lord of the rings
mention in one breath: Am December 12, 2024
2:38
Lord of the Rings: First trailer for War of the Rohirrim shows how the eponymous war comes about
Not the first rejection of Middle-earth
Even before the above interview, Hugo Weaving was known to be rather cautious about the newer Middle-earth productions.
Best example: The Rings of Power. The Amazon series can captivate countless people around the world in front of their television screens, but Hugo Weaving is not one of them. To this day he has not watched the controversial show once.
He revealed this in a conversation some time ago Cinemablend:
I have [Ringe der Macht] Didn’t see it and apologize to Robert [Aramayo, den neuen Elrond-Darsteller, Anm. d. Red.]. No, I’ve spent too much time in Middle-earth and I don’t particularly want to go back there. […]
[…] It’s a big, big movie, a huge franchise, but for me, in a funny way, not a role that I see with the same meaning in my head that maybe fans do. So, no, apologies to Robert, but I have [die Serie] not seen. I’m sure he’s great at it.
Incidentally, two other actors in the films are much more open to a return to Middle-earth: Viggo Mortensen would appear again as Aragorn at the ripe old age of 65, provided there is a convincing explanation for this in the script.
And even 85-year-old Ian McKellen is open to returning as Gandalf. However, he himself admits that the clock is ticking for him and that the project should get off to a better start.
So you notice: A lot is happening around Lord of the Rings right now. Season 3 of Rings of Power has not yet been officially confirmed, but is considered almost certain. And of course there are also new titles on the gaming front, such as the building game Tales of the Shire, which will be released in March 2025.
