Lord of the Rings veteran Elijah Wood doubles down on his support for the upcoming movie The Hunt for Gollum and explains why he doesn’t think it’s a cash grab. Wood played Frodo in the film adaptations of J.R.R Tolkien’s beloved trilogy, which followed him on the quest to destroy the One Ring. The Hunt for Gollum will be a deep dive into the adventures of the titular Gollum, taking place after Bilbo’s 111th birthday and before the Mines of Moria, exploring an intriguing story that hasn’t been told. Gollum actor Andy Serkis is set to direct.

Speaking with Inverse, Wood expressed his continued support for The Hunt of Gollum and explained why he doesn’t think the film is a cash grab. Ultimately, Wood felt that The Hunt for Gollum is like “getting the band back together in a really cool way for a really unique piece.” He’s also very aware of the concerns and cynicism surrounding the project and attributes his unwavering support for the movie to the fact that Peter Jackson and his partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are attached to the project. Read Wood’s full comments below:

“I am excited. I am obviously a fan of the creative team. I’m invested because it is the same creative team behind Lord of the Rings.”

“It’s revisiting that character, giving Andy a movie to direct… There’s no better person to shepherd that particular movie than the person who really created that character and knows that character through and through. It just feels like getting the band back together in a really cool way for a really unique piece.”

“I think the idea of there being more films in that universe is only exciting if it’s being shepherded by Pete, Fran, and Philippa and the rest of their creative universe in New Zealand. When it comes to, and I think we’re all a little bit sensitive to this, this world of trying to make more films within a certain kind of franchise, there can be a degree of cynicism associated with it. There can be this sort of, ‘Oh, f***, are they going to mess the thing up that I love? Is it just this kind of cash grab to exploit a specific thing?’”

“Apparently, there’s going to be another couple of movies all telling new stories within that universe, adjacent to the Lord of the Rings. Honestly, there’s so many different stories they could tell, so I’m excited to see what comes of it.”

What Does This Mean For The Hunt For Gollum?

There Is A Lot Of Support From The Cast & Creative Team

Wood’s hopeful sentiments reinforce that the actor is fully behind The Hunt for Gollum, and his high hopes are not unwarranted. The movie has talented filmmakers and Lord of the Rings veterans leading the charge. Serkis has shown creative potential outside his motion capture performances, so he is a fitting directing choice, and Jackson and his creative partners’ involvement is reassuring. As for Wood’s involvement with The Hunt for Gollum, the actor expressed his interest in returning as Frodo, although, given the concept and timeline of the movie, a cameo isn’t necessary.

Wood’s comments also cut directly to the cynicism revolving around The Hunt for Gollum. Since its release, considering the movie’s timeline’s proximity to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, many fans are concerned that the film is just milking the original trilogy that’s exploiting the revels received from the success of the Oscar-winning movies. Given the fanbase behind Gollum, a story that revolves around the beloved character is an easier project to get behind.

Ultimately, as a fan of Jackson and his adaptations of Tolkien’s work, I can easily agree with Wood’s advocacy and reasoning behind it. Jackson captured the whimsy and epic scale of the books well, so it’s reassuring that he’s serving as a producer for The Hunt for Gollum. Having Serkis direct is another green flag, as, being the actor who played Gollum, he has the strongest connection to the character. Serkis should be able to use his experience to tell a story that could serve as a character study that explores the mind of one of the trilogy’s darkest and most complex characters.

Wood’s comments also cut directly to the cynicism revolving around The Hunt for Gollum. Since its release, considering the movie’s timeline’s proximity to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, many fans are concerned that the film is just milking the original trilogy that’s exploiting the revels received from the success of the Oscar-winning movies. Given the fanbase behind Gollum, a story that revolves around the beloved character is an easier project to get behind.

Our Take On Elijah Wood’s Comments

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Ultimately, as a fan of Jackson and his adaptations of Tolkien’s work, I can easily agree with Wood’s advocacy and reasoning behind it. Jackson captured the whimsy and epic scale of the books well, so it’s reassuring that he’s serving as a producer for The Hunt for Gollum. Having Serkis direct is another green flag, as, being the actor who played Gollum, he has the strongest connection to the character. Serkis should be able to use his experience to tell a story that could serve as a character study that explores the mind of one of the trilogy’s darkest and most complex characters.

Wood’s comments also cut directly to the cynicism revolving around The Hunt for Gollum. Since its release, considering the movie’s timeline’s proximity to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, many fans are concerned that the film is just milking the original trilogy that’s exploiting the revels received from the success of the Oscar-winning movies. Given the fanbase behind Gollum, a story that revolves around the beloved character is an easier project to get behind.

Our Take On Elijah Wood’s Comments

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Ultimately, as a fan of Jackson and his adaptations of Tolkien’s work, I can easily agree with Wood’s advocacy and reasoning behind it. Jackson captured the whimsy and epic scale of the books well, so it’s reassuring that he’s serving as a producer for The Hunt for Gollum. Having Serkis direct is another green flag, as, being the actor who played Gollum, he has the strongest connection to the character. Serkis should be able to use his experience to tell a story that could serve as a character study that explores the mind of one of the trilogy’s darkest and most complex characters.