Elijah Wood Returning For THE HOBBIT

TheOneRing.net is reporting that Elijah Wood is coming back to the Shire and reprising the role of Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s THE HOBBIT. Not a moment too soon either – filming is scheduled to begin in February. Just this week it was announced that MGM and Warner Bros had come to a deal where Warner Bros will have worldwide theatrical distribution on Jackson’s film and MGM will retain international television rights. Warner Bros Pictures will pay the entire $500 million+ cost of the two installments of THE HOBBIT.

Here’s the official announcement from Wood’s rep. on Deadline.com.

Wood is confirmed to star in Peter Jackson’s THE HOBBIT to be shot in New Zealand. In addition, he has signed on to play “Ben Gunn” in Stewart Harcourt’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s TREASURE ISLAND along side Eddie Izzard. The 2 part/ 4 hour miniseries will be airing on SKY TV in the UK. Alan Moloney is producing with Steve Barron directing.

Wood will next be seen this summer in FX’s new series “Wilfred”, as well as lending his voice to Warner Bros. “Happy Feet 2” set for release November 18th as well as Disney XD’s “Tron: Uprising” (2012), In addition, he is starring in the Sundance short “Fight for your Right Revisited” directed by Adam Yauch and starring John C. Reilly and Seth Rogen.

Wood is repped by Nicole David at WME and Joanne Colonna at Brillstein Partners.

As was announced in early December, Cate Blanchett will reprise the role of Galadriel she played in Jackson’s THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. Ken Stott (Charlie Wilson’s War) will play the Dwarf Lord Balin; Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who) will play the wizard Radagast the Brown; Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt will play the shape-shifting bear-man Beorn; British actor Ryan Gage will play Drogo Baggins; and New Zealand actors Jed Brophy and William Kircher will play the dwarves Nori and Bifur, respectively.

So far, no word yet on the casting of Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Andy Serkis as Gollum.

The two films are slated to be released in December 2012 and December 2013.

Source: TheOneRing.net