Elijah Wood ‘Surprised’ by New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movies: I Hope They’re Made With ‘Reverence’ for Tolkien and Not Just to ‘Make a Lot of Money’

Elijah Wood is fascinated and surprised over Warner Bros. developing multiple new Lord of the Rings movies. The studio announced the plan in February. Wood, of course, played the hobbit Frodo in Peter Jacksons original The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which grossed $2.9 billion worldwide and remains one of cinemas greatest fantasy achievements.

Im fascinated and Im excited. I hope its good, Wood recently told GQ magazine about the new films. Im surprisedI dont know why Im surprised because, of course there would be more movies.

Obviously at the core of that, is a desire to make a lot of money, Wood continued. Its not that a bunch of executives are like, Lets make really awesome art. And, again, not begrudging anybody because, of course, it is commerce. But great art can come from commerce. So those two things are not mutually exclusive.

Wood stressed that Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings trilogy didnt come out of that place, referring to commerce.

It came out of a passion for these books and wanting to see them realized, Wood said. And I hope that that is ultimately what will drive everything forward with whatever these subsequent movies are. I just hope that its the same motivating factor at its core, whenever they hire a screenwriter and a filmmakerthat it is with reverence for Tolkiens material and enthusiasm to explore it.

All thats confirmed about Warner Bros. new Lord of the Rings movies is that there will be multiple films made based on J. R. R. Tolkiens books. No additional information was given by the studio, meaning its anyones guess whether the story will pick up before, after or during Jacksons original trilogy.

In a statement toVariety, Jackson and his main Lord of the Rings collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens previously said Warner Bros. kept us in the loop every step of the way regarding the new Lord of the Rings movies. Jackson was behind all three Rings movies and all three The Hobbit movies, winning the Oscar for best director with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

We look forward to speaking with [the studio] further to hear their vision for the franchise moving forward, Jackson, Walsh and Boyens added in their statement.

Woods Lord of the Rings co-star Andy Serkis recently said hed be interested in coming back to the world of Middle-earth on the big screen.

Peter Jackson, Fran and Philippa are sort of a second family that I have become part of and have gone on to make so many films with, Serkis toldBroBibles Post-Credit Podcast. And let me tell you they are the best and most incredible people to work with. I think that there are so many other potential Middle-earth projects which could come about, and if theyre doing them, I would, of course, jump at the chance to have that relationship rekindled.

Serkis added, Middle-earth has never left me.

Wood briefly reprised Frodo in Jacksons The Hobbit trilogy. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is currently back in theaters in celebration of its 20th anniversary.