Peter Jackson is confirming that Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom will indeed be reprising his role as Legolas in Jackson’s upcoming two-part adaptation of The Hobbit.
In unrelated news, a mysterious soundwave that experts are calling “the groan” was recorded just moments ago by Nasa satellites as it permeated the globe.
We kid of course: There are just as many fans of Bloom’s portrayal of Legolas as there are detractors – and there will certainly be a lot of fans all giddy about the thought of yet another actor from Lord of the Rings coming back for The Hobbit. Jackson broke the news via his Facebook page:
Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas. I’m excited to announce today that we’ll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more. I’m thrilled to be working with Orlando again. Funny thing is, I look older—and he doesn’t! I guess that’s why he makes such a wonderful elf.
On a side note, he’s totally right: Orlando Bloom does seem to age at an elf’s pace, no?
Considering how long the pointy-eared creatures in J.R.R. Tolkien’s world live, it was always assumed that Legolas would be included in The Hobbit – at least in a cameo role. In fact, news of Bloom being in final negotians for the film were leaking as far back as December. So no real surprises here. Also joining back in the fun are Hugo Weaving as the Elf leader Elrond, Sir Ian McKellen as the wizard Gandalf, and Andy Serkis as the CGI creature, Gollum.
In addition, Elijah Wood‘s character Frodo Baggins and Sir Ian Holm‘s character (and older Bilbo Baggins) are also returning for The Hobbit, hinting that the structure of the movie will be a sort of flashback, with an elder Bilbo and Frodo revisiting the tale of Bilbo’s adventure as a younger man. The story of The Hobbit is of course recorded in Bilbo’s famous yarn, “There and Back Again”.
This flashback structure leaves the door open for more Lord of the Rings alum to return, even though their characters aren’t necessarily a part of the original Hobbit novel (see: Cate Blanchett returning as Galadriel). Will we see characters like Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn making an appearance? Stay tuned.
The Hobbit is currently filming. Part I will be in theaters December, 2012, with Par II following a year later.
Source: Peter Jackson’s Facebook Page
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The Elf Warrior returns for the Hobbit.
/sigh ……really not needed
Agree with this article. Not a real surprise there.
Son of Thranduil? I guess he was likely to feature… at the Battle of Five Armies if nothing else, even though he wasn’t named in the book.
I just hope they don’t decide to dwell on him overly and invent a non-Tolkien storyline. They’ve enough trouble making all of those work properly without studio-prompted, invented purely for the Legolas-Dollar rubbish. :/
Galadriel is returning because shes a leading member of the White Council. They are including that storyline in the movies and so thats why she’ll be there. Not because they are going to work her in some how while bilbo is telling the story.
This is all great dressing on a salad…and I mean that in a good way. It helps to tie in the LOTR movies, I don’t see what harm it can do.
Wait… I don’t get it…
Is this movie a spin-off from Lord Of The Rings?
If so, the guys at hollywood really have run out of ideas. I mean, they have t be on some sort of medication to allow this to just happen!
Are you being serious?
Actually, it’s based on the book, ‘The Hobbit’, by JRR Tolkien. It’s the book before the Lord of the Rings Trilogy telling how the ring got into Bilbo’s hands and his adventure. It’s a very good book and it’s really cool they’re doing it.
But none of the characters besides Bilbo, Gandalf and Gollum are carry overs to the other books, this adventure took place 70 years before the Ring riliogy of movies.
Can’t hurt though. Besides, Legolas is an elf. He’s immortal. So even if he’s not mentioned in the book directly, he could still be in Mirkwood. It may not be accurate or whatever, but they’ve done a great job with the previous movies. I’m sure it will turn out fine!
and elrond but only briefly (in the book but in this who knows)
No, the Hobbit is set 60 years before the LOTR. It is not a spin-off.
..Lame….
dont like bloom..
This was a wise move on their part. Legolas has a LOT of fans. There are a lot of girls who actually fantasize about Legolas as much as they do Justin Bieber. (Notice I said Legolas and NOT Orlando Bloom.) This will bring in some extra bucks, guaranteed.
And anyway he DOES make a very striking elf. It’s good to have him back.
I can wait for the Hobbit !!
I like Bloom, and I liked Legolas in the LOTR trilogy. I don’t mind seeing him coming back, but his character is not in the book (as mentioned already). However, they are making this 2 movies, so I am guessing that Legolas will have a small role in the second film.
A great addition along with all the other characters who will return. GREAT news. I would hate to see these people reprised by new actors.
My two favorite parts will be the “Riddles in the Dark” piece between Bilbo and Gollum, and the “Battle of the Five Armies”. Now for non Tolkien fans on here, this is the crux of the book, when the Goblins and Wolves, battle the Men, Dwarfs and Elves. Its literally like all of these armies crashing in an epic tidal wave of violence.
And it actually makes sense that this whole thing would be perceived as a kind of flashback between Ian Holms Bilbo and Elijah Woods Frodo, because then they could also tie in the very ending of the book, which is (and I may be wrong, I have not read the book for a while and am going strictly off memory), Bilbo is visited some years later by Gandalf and Gloin or one of the other remaining members of the company of Thirteen.
sounds like good news to me, a little tweaking here and there can be a good thing I mean look how good LOTR was thanks to Jackson and little tweaks like this
Y did they cast young actor for the role of Thranduil since Legolas will appear in the movie
So r they gonna do make up or CGI to make Thranduil older?