- Primary Subject: The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum
- Key Update: New set photos reveal Elijah Wood’s return as Frodo Baggins outside Bag End.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: September 24, 2026
- Quick Answer: Elijah Wood reprises his role as Frodo Baggins in a minor capacity during the 17-year timeline gap before the Ring quest.
The highly anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is now deep into production, and a new set photo reveals the return of Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins.
A side story to Peter Jackson’s legendary trilogy and J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic novels, the new movie takes place during the early parts of the original story and sees the return of some fan-favorite characters and familiar faces. So, what will Frodo’s role be in The Hunt for Gollum?
What Do Fans Say About Frodo’s Return in The Hunt for Gollum
The new The Hunt for Gollum set photo shows Frodo from behind, but it is enough to excite fans just by seeing his trademark clothing and hair.
The image also takes viewers back to the iconic front door of Bag End, giving everyone a quick blast from the past and a glimpse of the Shire.
As expected, this has excited a lot of fans, with many sharing their reactions on X.
Pop culture tech account @MegaMaxing believes Warner Bros. is pulling something off by featuring Elijah Wood in the movie 25 years after the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
@fOx1257067 added that seeing Frodo outside Bag End makes the return to Middle-earth feel more real.
@ToIkienverse said seeing Frodo back in a new The Lord of the Rings movie has healed their inner child.
Other images show Hobbiton looking much as fans remember it, with lush greenery, autumn foliage, pumpkins, and several Hobbits going about their daily lives.
There are also behind-the-scenes shots of Andy Serkis directing the movie alongside several other Hobbits on the Shire set. Filming is taking place in New Zealand, returning to locations associated with Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth films.
What Role Will Frodo Play in The Hunt for Gollum?
Elijah Wood’s return as Frodo Baggins in The Hunt for Gollum may have divided fans due to its timeline, but the actor himself has already warned fans to keep their expectations low, as his role will be relatively small.
“My part to play is relatively small, but I’m just excited to go back,” he told GamesRadar.
But aside from being part of another The Lord of the Rings movie again, it looks like Woods is more excited to “getting the band back together.”
“I mean, it’s sort of like getting the band back together a little bit with that film,” he said. “A lot of the creative team who were part of Lord of the Rings are part of Hunt for Gollum. I’m just looking forward to seeing all those people again.”
Frodo’s appearance in The Hunt for Gollum occurs when Gandalf (Ian McKellen) leaves the Shire to investigate whether the ring Bilbo possesses is the One Ring.
In The Fellowship of the Ring, a montage featuring Gandalf researching the ring and searching for information about Gollum. But while that montage only lasts for a few minutes, 17 years have actually passed within the story.
So, the new movie is probably set during those 17 years, when Gandalf is looking for Gollum. That means Frodo is still living peacefully in the Shire at the time, hasn’t met Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), encountered the Nazgul, carried the One Ring to Mordor, or experienced the major events of the trilogy.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 17, 2027
Keep it locked on Epicstream, your go-to source for film, TV, and celebrity news!