‘Lord of the Rings’ Star Has a Reasonable Demand Before Returning in ‘Gollum’ Film

John Rhys-Davies has one surprising, but understandable condition for returning to The Lord of the Rings franchise in Andy Serkis’ upcoming The Hunt for Gollum. Almost every actor who appeared in the original trilogy is being asked if they would reprise their role in Serkis’ new film, which reportedly takes place just before Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) leaves the Shire in The Fellowship of the Ring. Rhys-Davies played everyone’s favorite Dwarf and friend, Gimli, in the trilogy, and could make a surprise return in The Hunt for Gollum.

Speaking to Collider, Rhys-Davies said he would be open to returning as Gimli in The Hunt for Gollum. But, he refuses to wear the heavy prosthetics for the character again. “Well, I’m known to not want to put that prosthetic on again,” he began. Rhys-Davies then said he adores Andy Serkis (who directs and stars in the film), and would consider playing the character again, but with some alterations to the process. He continued:

“But out of deference to Andy, whom I love and admire and, again, who has grown so much, if they invited me…oh god could I dare to put on that make-up again and lose my skin?
Maybe with CGI.
“

It might be surprising to hear that Rhys-Davies is considering a return, as the actor famously turned down appearing in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy. “Before, when they asked me to do The Hobbit, for instance, I said no. No, not at all,” he recalled. But, filmmaking and prosthetics technology have come a long way in recent years, and Rhys-Davies said the only way he could physically handle playing Gimli again would be through digital effects. He continued:

“Times have moved on and technology has moved on, if I don’t have to spend eight hours a day for three years of my life in a make-up chair, I might indeed do it. The other thing is physically I am no longer capable of putting eighty pounds of extra armor and stuff on and climbing up mountains.”

Which ‘LOTR’ Stars Could Return for ‘The Hunt for Gollum’?

John Rhys-Davies is far from the first Lord of the Rings star to be asked about reappearing in The Hunt for Gollum, and he certainly won’t be the last. In June, Andy Serkis teased that the new movie will be a deep dive into the titular character, and there “may be characters that we recognize that might be coming back.” One by one, past LOTR icons have been weighing in with their opinions on returning to the beloved cinematic franchise.

Ian McKellen appears to be the most optimistic about returning as Gandalf.The actor revealed that more movies are reportedly being developed involving the gray/white wizard. However, given his age, he joked “they better be quick.” Everyone’s second favorite Hobbit (behind Samwise, of course), Elijah Wood, is also open to returning for The Hunt for Gollum. However, on the other side of the fence sits Hugo Weaving, who said he’s “had enough of Middle-Earth” and won’t return for the new movie.