Share this @internewscast.com
During a partial reunion of “The Lord of the Rings” cast, Orlando Bloom, who portrayed Legolas, recounted how the actors created lasting bonds through activities outside of filming in the stunning landscapes of New Zealand. Bloom reminisced about weekend getaways with the four actors playing Hobbits—Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd—where they would rent a seaside bach (a term New Zealanders use for a beach house), enjoy barbecues, and surf. Reflecting on these experiences, Bloom described them as “really magical” in an interview with EW.
New Line Cinema
Bloom, who embodied the Elven prince from Mirkwood, shared that his appearance complemented his role, thanks in part to a distinctive hairdo. “I had my crazy mohawk,” he remarked. “I raised my hairline to look more Elven and older. Nowadays, they wouldn’t need to do that since my hair is receding. But back then, they shaved and styled it into a mohawk, which suited the surfing vibe perfectly.”
The British actor pointed out that he even looked the part, thanks to his role as the Elven princeling of Mirkwood. “I had my crazy mohawk,” he said. “I raised my hairline to make me look a bit more Elven and older. They wouldn’t have to do that now, ’cause my hair is receding. But they shaved me and kinda shaved it all the way back, so I had this mohawk, and it was pretty good for the surf look, too.”
However, Bloom’s time on set wasn’t just about idyllic weekends by the sea. He revealed that his character’s immaculate appearance often made him the target of jokes during filming. “I was the butt of most of the jokes because I never got dirty,” he explained. “Legolas never gets bloody or dirty. Viggo [Mortensen] enjoyed teasing me about my perfectly styled hair, clean face, and manicured nails.”
Despite the playful jabs, Bloom seems to carry no lasting sting from those moments. Nearly 25 years later, he recounts them with humor, emphasizing that “it was funny.” Reflecting on the camaraderie formed among the predominantly young cast, he noted, “I was 20 or 21. We were all young. It was a lot of fun. We were like a family of friends.” In a conversation with Variety last year about potentially joining a new Middle-earth project, Bloom stated, “It was a pretty magical time in my life, and there’s no downside to it.” Clearly, the experience, jokes included, was one he cherishes.
Orlando Bloom got teased while filming
New Line Cinema
The question of whether the original “Lord of the Rings” cast will return to the big screen continues to intrigue fans. Iconic characters like Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond, and Sauron have appeared in Prime Video’s “The Rings of Power,” yet none of the original actors have reprised their roles. This lack of crossover is understandable, given the different studios involved—Peter Jackson’s films were produced by New Line Cinema, part of Warner Bros., while “The Rings of Power” is a separate production—and the story’s setting in a much earlier period of Middle-earth history.
Fortunately, Bloom doesn’t appear to have absorbed any long-term emotional hurt from the ribbing. While he was quick to recount it almost 25 years later, he made sure to clarify that “it was funny.” He also spent time reflecting on the bond he built between himself and his castmates, most of whom were similarly young and not too far into their acting careers at the time.
“I was 20 or 21,” he said. “We were all young. There was a lot of fun. We were a family of friends.” When talking to Variety last year about his potential involvement in another upcoming Middle-earth film, Bloom even went so far as to say, “It was a pretty magical time in my life, and it’s one of those things where there’s not a downside to it.” The guy clearly had a lot of fun and doesn’t regret the experience, teasing and all.
Will we see Legolas again in Middle-earth?
New Line Cinema
The question on everyone’s minds these days is whether we’ll see the old guard of “Lord of the Rings” icons re-emerge on the silver screen again. There are connection point characters — like Gandalf, Galadriel, Elrond, and Sauron — but none of the original actors have shown up in Prime Video’s “The Rings of Power” series. It makes sense that the actors wouldn’t overlap, however, since it’s a different studio (Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” films are through New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros.) and the story takes place in a much earlier era of Middle-earth history.
We’re more likely to see the OG crew re-emerge in the upcoming “The Hunt for Gollum” movie currently in production at Warner Bros. Pictures. We already know the movie will feature Gollum actor Andy Serkis, both to reprise that role and direct the film. There have been rumors (but little solid information) about the return of several other actors as well, including Viggo Mortensen (as Aragorn), Elijah Wood (as Frodo), Ian McKellen (as Gandalf), and yes, Orlando Bloom as Legolas.
Ironically, Bloom left some fans furious back in September 2024, when he talked about de-aging characters with AI as a potential option for the new project. However, the pushback was mostly about a resistance to new technology and not the actor himself. The fact that his character is one we could easily see in the film makes it that much more likely that Bloom will find his way back to Middle-earth. As of this writing, though, nothing is official other than a likely December 2027 release date.
