In case you somehow missed it, Amazon is making a Lord of the Rings TV show (although Elijah Wood may disagree). The iconic film series featured a bevy of stars, including Hugo Weaving, who has blunt thoughts about possibly returning for the Amazon series. Depending on your foreknowledge, Weaving’s answer might surprise you.
Hugo Weaving played Elrond throughout the Lord of the Rings film series, but would he be willing to reprise the role again for the show? The Amazon series already excited fans with the reported casting of young Galadriel, which was the part played by Cate Blanchett in the movies. Blanchett may be out, but could Weaving be up for it? Asked about the possibility, he told Variety:
No way. Absolutely no. Matrix might have happened. But Lord of the Rings, no, I would never — I’m not interested in that at all. Look, I loved being in New Zealand with all those great people, and it was like going back to a family but actually, to be honest, I think everyone had more than enough of it.
So, that's a no? Just kidding. That's obviously a big, fat NO. Hugo Weaving, irrefutably, has zero interest in returning to The Lord of the Rings universe, but it's a reasonable response considering that he starred in the original trilogy and two of The Hobbit movies. Five times was enough for him, and Weaving hinted that he is not the only one who is surprised that they're heading back to the LOTR universe.
Orlando Bloom never expected Lord of the Rings to get remade, and, so far, he's been correct in his assumption. The Amazon series will take an epic leap back in time as it heads into the Second Age portion of the story. Thus, making it a prequel to those more familiar big screen tales from Middle-earth.
Hugo Weaving may be tired of all things LOTR, but acknowledges that he would have been willing to have another go at The Matrix. Weaving starred as Agent Smith in the original franchise, which is now heading into new territory. In the end, The Matrix 4 decided to move on without Weaving due to issues relating to scheduling conflicts. One would imagine the LOTR TV show (also filming in New Zealand, like the movies did) might have led to a similar story. Could that have figured into Hugo Weaving’s reluctant answer? Or is it simply franchise fatigue?
Why Hugo Weaving was willing to do more of The Matrix and not Lord of the Rings is anyone’s guess. He did have a bit more time with the Lord of the Rings universe than he did The Matrix, so that may hold the answer. Regardless of his reasons, an appearance in the TV show with a massive episode count is off the table.
Whatever the story, the cast of The Lord of the Rings TV show will get a 5-month break in between Season 1 and 2, which led to a major star deciding to drop out of the project, as Black Mirror: Bandersnatch’s Will Poulter ultimately opted to exit the project. He was replaced in the role of Beldor by Game of Thrones’ Robert Aramayo.
In the end, Will Poulter has not missed out on the chance to go toe-to-toe with Hugo Weaving. The Lord of the Rings TV show will arrive at some point in the future on Amazon Prime Video. While you wait to return to Middle-earth, check out this fall’s premieres.
