While everybody seems to live a long time in Middle Earth, some live a lot longer than others, meaning that despite decades having passed between the end of The Hobbit and the beginning of Lord Of The Rings, the same actors could play some of the same roles in both film series. As a result Ian McKellen will return as Gandalf for Peter Jackson’s two-art Hobbit adaptations, Cate Blanchett is set to reprise her part as Galadriel, and now it appears Orlando Bloom may be returning as Legolas.
This may come as a surprise to Tolkien purists, as Legolas, while alive at the time of The Hobbit, doesn’t feature in that book at all, and is only introduced in The Lord Of The Rings. Despite this, Deadline suggests it’ll be more than a cameo as well. There’s also the possibility that with Deadline including a note of uncertainty as to how Bloom would fit in, he could actually be playing Thranduil, known as the Elvenking, who is Legolas’ father and does feature in the Hobbit. However as Galadriel doesn’t appear in The Hobbit, but they’re bringing her back, maybe they will find a role for Legolas in The Hobbit.
Other expected to return include Andy Serkis as Smeagol/Gollum and Hugo Weaving as Elrond, although talks to get them back have apparently been arduous and are yet to conclude – indeed Ian McKellen is yet to officially sign on the dotted line either, even if he will almost certainly return as Gandalf.