Hugo Weaving Opens Up About Returning to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Universe

Recently, we announced that a new film is officially slated for release in 2026, with Peter Jackson returning to The Lord of the Rings franchise as a producer. The film has been titled The Hunt for Gollum, and we also learned that Andy Serkis will not only direct but will reprise his iconic role as Gollum.

This project is part of a larger initiative to revitalize The Lord of the Rings film series and expand upon Jackson’s original works.

A return to Middle-earth is on the horizon, and we’re eagerly anticipating the film’s release. However, with a long wait ahead, details remain limited for now.

This has, of course, sparked rumors about potential cast returns. While both Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen have expressed their interest in reprising their roles, one actor who has recently shared his thoughts on returning to the franchise is Hugo Weaving.

Hugo Weaving, known for his portrayal of Elrond in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, has been a key presence throughout the franchise. Although his role in The Hobbit was smaller, he remains one of the series’ major characters.

With the upcoming movie serving as a prequel, this presents a fantastic opportunity to bring his character back into the spotlight. But what will happen?

In an interview with GamesRadar+, Hugo Weaving shared his thoughts on the possibility of returning to The Lord of the Rings franchise:

Personally, I’ve had enough of that. It was great being in New Zealand on and off over a ten year period. I did then go back and work with the same team [director Peter Jackson and writer Fran Walsh] on a project called Mortal Engines which was going to be their next big franchise, but it died on its arse.

So, I’ve had enough of Middle-earth I don’t imagine anyone would ask me to do it again.

Elrond is meant to be immortal and I’m aging. Elrond is one of the few characters, I think there’s only three or four of them, who spans through The Silmarillion, 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 I was older than I was before.

And shooting stuff on The Hobbit was starting to get slightly silly. I loved being a part of that franchise but I have absolutely no plans or desires to be a part of it anymore.

Source: GamesRadar+

This news is certainly disappointing for fans hoping to see Weaving return. While he makes a valid point that Elrond isn’t aging, and technology could address that, it appears this isn’t the primary concern.

From what we gather, Weaving’s experience working with Jackson and Walsh on Mortal Engines wasn’t entirely positive, and it seems he is hesitant to collaborate with them again, which is unfortunate.

Do you have any thoughts? Share them in the comments below!

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