Elijah Wood has become more than just “that guy fromThe Lord of the Rings” since his time with the original trilogy 2 decades ago. But even though he’s got an enviable career, even taking him to places like the hit seriesYellowjackets, he still holds a soft spot for the eminent fantasy franchise.
So, naturally, Wood had some thoughts on the matter after Warner Bros and New Line announced anew set ofLord of the Ringsmoviesin February. It may have surprised some, particularly given the often lukewarm reception of Prime Video’sThe Rings of Powerseries. But there’s no denying that J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic stories continue to draw in audiences. To that end, what does one of the most prominent cast members from theLord of the Ringsfilms think about this new development?
RELATED:Is The Warner Bros. Lord of the Rings Project Doomed From The Start?
In a recent interview withGQ, Wood took a tangent from the talk on his new role inYellowjacketsto answer some burning questions aboutThe Lord of the Rings. Namely, he proved his love of those classic tales along with some cautious optimism. “I’m fascinated and I’m excited. I hope it’s good. I’m surprised—I don’t know why I’m surprised because, of course there would be more movies,” he said when asked what he thought about the announcement from Warner Bros and New Line.
“Obviously at the core of that, is a desire to make a lot of money. It’s not that a bunch of executives are like, ‘Let’s make really awesome art,'” Wood mused. “And, again, not begrudging anybody because, of course, it is commerce. But great art can come from commerce. So those two things are not mutually exclusive.” Given howWood had a bone to pick withThe Rings of Powerregarding its naming conventions, it’s unsurprising that he takes the franchise this seriously. Ultimately, his thoughts on the new films come down to whether they’re being made with the art in mind.
“ButLord of the Ringsdidn’t come out of that place,” he continued. “It came out of a passion for these books and wanting to see them realized. And I hope that that is ultimately what will drive everything forward with whatever these subsequent movies are. I just hope that it’s the same motivating factor at its core, whenever they hire a screenwriter and a filmmaker—that it is with reverence for Tolkien’s material and enthusiasm to explore it.” It looks like histime onYellowjacketsseason 2isn’t the only passion of his right now.
Wood’s clear love ofThe Lord of the Ringsis understandable. The books are timeless classics, and Peter Jackson’s original film trilogy was a cultural phenomenon that still holds steam. For many,The Lord of the Ringsis more than just a franchise - it’s a piece of themselves. Here’s hoping Warner Bros and New Line grant their new movies the reverence they deserve.
