A major actor in the trilogy The Lord of the Rings wouldn't be against returning to the film The Hunt for Gollumbut on one condition.
The universe of Lord of the Rings has not finished emerging from the pages of JRR Tolkien after Peter Jackson's two trilogies (not forgetting the two animated films from the 70s). The franchise recently took over the small screen with The Rings of Power on Prime Video, then will soon return to cinemas with a new animated feature film, co-produced by Japan and called The Rohirrim War. This fantastic legacy will then continue on the New Line side with The Hunt for Golluma film written and directed by Andy Serkis (who played Gollum/Sméagol in the previous films).
The Briton should thus adapt a note from the novel which tells how Gandalf and Aragorn tracked Gollum for eight years before the latter was captured by Sauron, the events taking place between The Hobbit et The Fellowship of the Ring. Obviously, many people are wondering if the actors portrayed by Jackson will be back for the occasion, if they will be recast or digitally rejuvenated.
Nothing has been confirmed, but Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn), Ian McKellen (Gandalf), and Orlando Bloom (Legolas) aren't completely dismissing the idea, as are this other prominent member of the Fellowship of the Ring who would agree to return to Middle-earth, but on one condition.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: DWARF WEARS WHAT?
In the middle of a promotional tour for the podcast series Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (in which Sean Astin aka Sam Gamgie also participates), the actor John Rhys-Davies, who played the Dwarf Gimli in Peter Jackson's trilogy, answered the question of a possible return in the next film:
“Well, it's a known fact that I don't want to ever put that prosthesis back on, but if I were invited back, out of respect for Andy [Serkis, ndlr] who I love and admire and who has evolved so much, would I dare to wear this makeup again and lose my skin? Maybe with some CGI. Before, when they asked me to come back in The Hobbit for example, I said no, not at all. If I don't have to spend eight hours a day in a makeup chair for three years of my life, maybe I will. The other thing is that physically I am no longer able to carry 80 pounds [environ 36 kilos] armor and accessories and climb mountains. »
The actor is now 80 years old and might actually struggle to hit as fast and hard as he used to, compared to Ian McKellen who has a few more years on his clock, but can be content to raise his stick or 'spread your arms to defeat your enemies. As for the use of CGI, it was already very present (and criticized) in The Hobbitbut most of the Dwarves' faces were still done in practical effects with imposing prosthetics and thick costumes that were sometimes difficult to wear.
While waiting to know who will return, when, how and why (Gimli having a priori no reason to accompany Gandalf and Aragorn), the next public meeting with Tolkien's work will be held on December 11 for the theatrical release of Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim. For the bravest, the two seasons of Rings of Power are still available in full on the Prime Video platform.
