A week or so ago word hit the web – with a thump! – that Hugo Weaving was set to reprise his role as Elrond (from “Lord of the Ringsâ€) for Guillermo Del Toro’s “The Hobbitâ€. Thing is, it’s news to Weaving, who told me earlier today (at an interview for his new film, “Last Rideâ€) that he’s yet to have a discussion with anyone concerning the film.
“I knew that if and when it happened I’d get a call and we’d chat about it, but I haven’t spoken to anyone about it. Someone said to me ‘I hear you’re doing the Hobbit?’ I said ‘Well, um, probably’, they said “No, no. you’ve signed on’. I haven’t actually talked to anyone about it. Doesn’t mean I won’t be doing it, [I’m] just not onboard yet.â€
Weaving hasn’t met the prequel’s director but says the he’s “really excited that [Del Toro] is directing. He’s a fantastic choice – an absolutely wonderful choice, just brilliant. It’d be good to get back together with Andy Serkis and Ian McKellan, and whoever else comes back – there’s not many other characters that could come back I guess. Bilbo is back, but you’ve got to have a much younger version of the character. Whereas Elves and Wizards it doesn’t matter – you might just have to age me back thoughâ€, he laughs.