Orlando Bloom Open to AI Legolas in LOTR: Gollum

Orlando Bloom has opened up about potentially returning as Legolas in "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum," sharing his vision for how the character could be reintroduced.

Scheduled for release on December 17, 2027, "The Hunt for Gollum" will feature Andy Serkis both directing and reprising his iconic role as Gollum. The film will explore Gollum's untold story during the gap between "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Could other original cast members join the project? During an interview with MovieWeb while promoting "Deep Cover," Bloom, now 48, expressed enthusiasm about Legolas making a comeback. He emphasized that the elven archer would need to appear as youthful as in the original films, suggesting AI de-aging technology might be necessary.

"I'd want Legolas to look exactly as he did in the original trilogy," Bloom explained. "That would require AI magic—keeping him agile, effortless, and battle-ready. If they asked, my answer would be an immediate yes! Returning to New Zealand for filming would be incredible—it's simply the best place to work."

Bloom first portrayed Legolas at age 24 in 2001’s "The Fellowship of the Ring." Now, 24 years later, could the elf return realistically? Alongside Gollum, familiar faces like Gandalf might reappear—Sir Ian McKellen, 86, has hinted at reprising his role if health permits, while Viggo Mortensen has also shown interest.

How to Watch The Lord of the Rings Movies Chronologically

View 7 Images

Serkis recently teased "The Hunt for Gollum’s" tone and confirmed production updates. Warner Bros. revealed it’s the first of two new Middle-earth films from Peter Jackson’s creative team, expanding Tolkien’s universe.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s "The Rings of Power" keeps Middle-earth alive with Season 3 underway, and December’s animated film "The War of the Rohirrim" adds another chapter to the legendarium.