Forget passing the torch — Orlando Bloom isn’t ready to let Legolas go.

Now that the Lord of the Rings franchise is moving forward with a new live-action entry from producer Peter Jackson and director Andy Serkis, Bloom can’t help but wonder how he fits into the future of Middle-earth.

“I have not heard a peep, actually,” Bloom told Today host Craig Melvin on Friday when asked if he will reprise his role in the upcoming film. “I don’t know. I know it’s focusing on Gollum, so anything’s possible. And I went back for The Hobbit.”

He added, “It’s such an amazing part. I’m so grateful to have been a part of those movies. But I haven’t heard.”

Orlando Bloom in September 2025.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

When Melvin specifically asked if Bloom would answer the call to star in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, the actor didn’t hesitate to confirm his interest. “Listen, I’d hate to see anyone else play Legolas, you know what I mean?” he replied. “What are they going to do? Are they going to put somebody else in as Legolas?”

Bloom then quipped, “With A.I. they can do anything these days!”

It’s no surprise that Bloom can’t imagine anyone else filling Legolas’ shoes — he played the part across two decades, portraying the beloved character in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003), before reprising his role in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) and The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). Now, another opportunity to show off his archery skills has arisen.

Last year, original LOTR helmer Jackson announced he was producing a new live-action installment in The Lord of the Rings franchise with Gollum actor Serkis set to direct and star. Originally slated for a 2026 release, the film is now expected to premiere in December 2027.

Orlando Bloom in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’.

Pierre Vinet/New Line

While Bloom says he has yet to hear anything about his involvement in the new movie, not every Lord of the Rings alum is out of the loop. Last month, Gandalf the Grey actor Ian McKellen casually dropped a bombshell bit of casting news on the unsuspecting crowd at a London fan event at the convention For the Love of Fantasy.

“I’ll tell you two secrets about the casting,” he said of the upcoming movie. “There’s a character in the movie called Frodo, and there’s a character in the movie called Gandalf.”

When the crowd gasped in excitement, he joked, “Apart from that, my lips are sealed!”

McKellen did not specify if he and original Frodo Baggins star Elijah Wood would reprise their roles in the film, but Wood was present at the fan event, offering a conspiratorial smile. However, he had no further comment on the matter.

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As for their Fellowship of the Ring brother Viggo Mortensen, the Aragorn actor said he isn’t involved in the new project yet, but he added that he was open to reprising his role as the King of Gondor under the right circumstances.

“I don’t know exactly what the story is. I haven’t heard. Maybe I’ll hear about it eventually,” Mortensen told GQ last year. “I like playing that character. I learned a lot playing the character. I would only do it if I was right for it in terms of, you know, the age I am now and so forth. I would only do it if I was right for the character. It would be silly to do it otherwise.”