Elijah Wood Teases Frodo’s Return in Stephen Colbert’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie BUT “We’re Not There Yet”

Elijah Wood has addressed reports suggesting he may return as Frodo Baggins in Stephen Colbert’s upcoming Lord of the Rings project, and his answer is far from a confirmation.

Speaking in an interview with The Direct while promoting his new animated series Among Us, Wood clarified that nothing is officially set regarding the film titled Shadows of the Past. He reacted to online casting listings and speculation with surprise, saying the project is still in very early stages. “Okay. Well, it hasn’t… We’re not there yet,” Wood said when asked about his involvement.

The upcoming film is reportedly being developed by late-night host Stephen Colbert, his son Peter McGee, and original Lord of the Rings writer Philippa Boyens. The story is said to explore the “Fogs on the Barrow-downs” chapter from J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, material that was never adapted in Peter Jackson’s original trilogy.

That detail has sparked speculation that characters like Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin could return. Early online listings even suggested Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd were attached, though Wood made it clear that nothing has been finalized.

He explained that the idea behind the project is to expand on the parts of The Fellowship of the Ring that were originally left out of the films. According to Wood, those sections were removed because they would have slowed the pace of the journey to Bree.

“Okay. Well, it hasn’t… We’re not there yet… But listen, I think the implication is that the stories that Stephen wants to tell, which are the six chapters that were not committed to film in Fellowship of the Ring… it just would have taken a long time to get to Bree,” he said.

Even though he is not officially attached yet, Wood did not dismiss the idea of returning. He said the concept itself is exciting and depends on how the script develops and whether the project is greenlit.

“But certainly in theory, yeah,” he said when asked about reprising Frodo. He also praised the creative team involved, adding, “It’s in the best Tolkien scholarly hands.”

The project is still in development at Warner Bros., with no confirmed release date and no official casting announcements. Reports have also suggested that Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh are attached as producers, though the film has not yet been approved for production.

At the same time, another Lord of the Rings project titled The Hunt for Gollum is also in development with Andy Serkis directing. Wood is also rumored to be involved in that film, which is expected to focus on Gollum’s story and events leading up to The Fellowship of the Ring.

Wood has previously commented that The Hunt for Gollum could include multiple familiar faces and cameo appearances, though details remain unclear.

For now, the return of Frodo Baggins remains only a possibility. Wood’s comments suggest that while he is open to revisiting the role, nothing will move forward until the script is finished and the project receives official approval.

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