Elijah Wood Gives Hunt for Gollum Script His Nod, and Middle-earth Fans Can Breathe Easy

Elijah Wood has not signed on for The Hunt for Gollum, but he has read the script and, yeah, he is pretty hyped about it. This is the part where I say: if Frodo is impressed, I am listening.

So what did Elijah say?

At a DesertCon panel in Mexico (via The Direct), Wood said he is in the loop and has seen the pages.

"I know a great deal about it. I've read it. It's really good."

He also sounded genuinely excited about who is steering the ship behind the scenes, calling it a bit of a reunion of the original Lord of the Rings brain trust.

"It feels like getting that old machine up and running again with all of the right people."

Who is making this thing?

This is the inside-baseball part fans care about: Andy Serkis is set to both direct and star, Peter Jackson is producing, and long-time collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are writing the script. According to Wood, the production is aiming for serious continuity with the classic trilogy crew — the same production designers are involved, and cameras will roll in New Zealand. In other words, they are trying to make Middle-earth feel like Middle-earth.

About that cast...

Despite all the familiar names behind the camera, on-camera is still a question mark. Beyond Serkis, no other cast has been officially announced. Orlando Bloom says he has not heard anything. Viggo Mortensen has said he is open to returning. As of last year, Sir Ian McKellen was waiting to see a script before deciding. It is easy to assume the old guard will pop up in a story about the hunt for Gollum — a stretch of lore that slots between major events in the films — but nothing is locked in yet.

• Title: The Hunt for Gollum
• Elijah Wood: not confirmed to appear, but he has read the script and likes it
• Andy Serkis: directing and starring
• Peter Jackson: producing
• Writers: Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens (the duo behind the LOTR and Hobbit trilogies)
• Production: same production designers returning; planned shoot in New Zealand
• Cast status beyond Serkis: no official sign-ons yet
• Orlando Bloom: says he has not heard anything
• Viggo Mortensen: open to returning
• Ian McKellen: was waiting for a script as of last year
• Release date: December 17, 2027

The bottom line

Wood’s not in — at least not yet — but he has seen enough to be bullish. With Serkis in the driver’s seat and Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens back together, this really does sound like a purposeful return to the original trilogy’s playbook. If they can nail the casting and keep that New Zealand magic, the hunt could be worth the wait.