A potential Legolas return in futureLord of the Ringsmovie projects gets a promising update from Orlando Bloom.Bloom first starred as a member of the Fellowship of the Ring in Peter Jackson’s three-film adaptationof J R.R. Tolkien’s acclaimed fantasy novel series. He would later reprise his role for the director’sThe Hobbitfilm trilogy, where a younger Legolas initially acts as an adversary to the series' party of Dwarves, before later becoming an ally to the group. Since then,newLord of the Ringsmovies have been in development, includingThe Hunt for Gollum.
In an interview withVariety, Bloom addressed whether he would have any involvement in the new big-screen Middle-Earth adventures. Revealing that he still had a fondness for the role and would be happy to work alongside the cast and crew once more,Bloom stated he had discussed the matter with Andy Serkis, though potential routesmay involve the controversial use of AI to de-age the actor. Check out Bloom’s full response below:
Oh, man, those things are amazing. Yeah. I don’t know how they’d do it. I guess with AI you can do anything these days. But, if Pete [Peter Jackson] says jump, I say, “How high?” I mean, he started my whole career. I really don’t know what [they are planning]. I did speak to Andy [Serkis] and he did say they were thinking about how to do things. I was like, “How would that even work?” And he was like, “Well, AI!” and I was like, “Oh, OK!” It was a pretty magical time in my life, and it’s one of those things where there’s not a downside to it.
What Is The NextLord of the RingsMovie?
The Next Feature May Already Have Familiar Actors Returning.
Currently, theLord of the Ringsfranchise has two live-action films in development, the first beingThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Directed by Serkis and produced by Jackson, the movie is expected to adapt several noted extracts detailed in Tolkien’sAppendicesfor the initial trilogy, as Gandalf and Aragorn determine that tracking the warped Hobbit is the best course of action to prevent Sauron’s return.Ian McKellen has confirmed he has discussed a potential Gandalf reprisal, though Viggo Mortensen is more skeptical of a return.
How Could Bloom’s Legolas Return?
Past & Upcoming Middle-Earth Films Have Allowed Familiar Faces To Return.
Given Legolas' popularity, it is unsurprising that, much like his inclusion in the events ofThe Hobbittrilogy, the creative team is keen on revisiting him in tales not originally featuring him. Furthermore,The Hobbitand the upcomingThe War of the Rohirrimanimated movie have allowed original cast members Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, and Miranda Otto to reprise their roles in a natural, fan-pleasing manner. However,Bloom and Serkis' potential de-aging cast a shadow over potentialLord of the Ringsproductions, as mixed results and moral questions become more prevalent in each Hollywood usage.
4 Lord of the Rings Stories That Would Have Been Better Than a Gollum Spinoff
Let’s explore Middle-earth and stories that are more precious than a Gollum spinoff.
ThoughLord of the Ringsfans may be heartened to hear of Bloom’s openness to return, his comments on AI usage may dissuade potential viewers. While some VFX de-aging has been well-received in certain cases, studios' continued reliance on that technology has also been cited as detrimental to the industry, with the option to cast new stars and bring in a new generation of talent being stunted by relying on recognizable, nostalgic faces both living and passed. As such, Bloom’s comments may prove to be divisive among viewers.
Source:Variety
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
