Orlando Bloom’s Vision for Legolas in ‘The Hunt for Gollum’: Will AI Make it Possible?

Orlando Bloom has expressed his enthusiasm about returning to Middle-earth as Legolas in the upcoming film The Hunt for Gollum, which is slated for release on December 17, 2027. In a recent interview with MovieWeb promoting his new movie Deep Cover, Bloom discussed his vision for the character’s return.

While fans of the iconic elf have longed for his return, Bloom revealed that to make Legolas appear as he did in the original The Lord of the Rings trilogy, AI-powered de-ageing technology would likely be required.

Bloom, now 48, is keen to step back into the shoes of the beloved archer, but he wants to make sure Legolas remains true to his youthful appearance from the early 2000s. “I think first of all, I’d like to see [Legolas] the same age as he was [in the original trilogy],” he said. “So, AI would have to come into play. I think I’d like to see him lithe and breezy and warrior-like.” Bloom emphasized that if the filmmakers were interested, he would eagerly return to New Zealand to reprise his role, adding that there’s no better place to be in the world right now than New Zealand.

While fans are excited to see the return of other characters, including Gollum (with Andy Serkis reprising his role as both actor and director), the question remains: how realistic is it to expect a return of Legolas, especially after such a long time? The film’s storyline will explore Gollum’s activities between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and with major players like Gandalf and Aragorn also potentially returning, it’s clear that The Hunt for Gollum aims to bring many fan-favorite characters back to the screen.

While the prospect of Legolas’ return is exciting, many are questioning the necessity of using AI for this purpose. Several fans have voiced concerns about the overuse of CGI and de-ageing technology, arguing that it detracts from the authenticity of the story. As one fan put it, “It’s kind of amazing how far the tech has come forward, but do we really need it for Legolas?” Others, however, believe that a recast would be a better option, rather than relying on technology to replicate the actor’s appearance.

The decision to delve deeper into Gollum’s character and the period between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings has sparked mixed reactions. Some fans are excited to see more from the beloved characters, while others feel that the franchise has been milked dry. With additional Tolkien-related projects like The War of the Rohirrim and the Prime Video series The Rings of Power, it’s clear that Middle-earth continues to captivate audiences, but at what cost to the integrity of the original story?