Is Orlando Bloom returning to 'Lord of the Rings' franchise
What's the story
Orlando Bloom, known for his portrayal of Legolas in the Lord of the Rings franchise, has expressed interest in returning to the series.
This comes shortly after Ian McKellen's public desire to reprise his role as Gandalf.
In a recent interview with Variety, Bloom stated: "Oh, man, those things are amazing. Yeah... But, if Pete [Peter Jackson] says jump, I say 'how high?' I mean he started my whole career."
Upcoming series
New 'Lord of the Rings' series set for 2026 release
The new Lord of the Rings series is scheduled to begin in 2026 with The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis. Serkis will also reprise his role as Gollum/Smeagol.
Original franchise director Jackson is set to produce alongside his partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.
This film marks the start of a new live-action Lord of the Rings series currently under development at Warner Bros.
Discussions underway
Bloom discussed potential return with director Serkis
Bloom has already initiated discussions with Serkis about a potential return to the franchise.
He shared, "I did speak to Andy [Serkis] and he did say they were thinking about how to do things. I was like, 'How would that even work?' And he was like, 'Well, AI!' and I was like, 'Oh, OK!'"
This conversation suggests that advanced technology such as artificial intelligence may play a significant role in the upcoming films.
McKellen's remarks
McKellen's earlier statement about Gandalf's involvement in new films
Earlier this month, McKellen had also expressed his interest in reprising his role as Gandalf for the upcoming films.
He stated, "I've just been told there are going to be more films and Gandalf will be involved and they hope that I'll be playing him. When? I don't know. What the script is? It's not written yet. So they better be quick!"
This suggests that Warner Bros is actively considering the return of original cast members for the new series.