Elijah Wood to return for Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit?

After the recent announcement that Orlando Bloom is set to briefly reprise his role as Elfin archer Legolas, Elijah Wood may also be making a return to Middle Earth for Peter Jackson's eagerly-anticipated two-part film version of The Hobbit.

Mike Fleming of Deadline Hollywood has said that Elijah is part of a slew of actors that 'might come back for encores'. The exact quote is as follows:

"I’ve learned that Warner Bros will, in fact, pay the entire cost of the two installments of The Hobbit, a price-tag that is expected to exceed $500 million. Now, the question will be which cast members from The Lord of the Rings come back for encores. I’ve heard talk of conversations with Ian McKellen [Gandalf the Grey], Andy Serkis [Gollum] and possibly Elijah Wood [Frodo Baggins]. I’d heard Orlando Bloom was also in talks before the holidays. Returning actors will need to be locked in shortly."

Martin Freeman (The Office, Sherlock) is to take the starring role as Bilbo Baggins, father of the Frodo character played by Elijah Wood in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Considering Freeman is only ten years older than Elijah and that Ian Holm, who played Bilbo in the opening scenes of the trilogy, is 40 years older than Freeman, any plans to incorporate Wood could present a nightmare of continuity concerns.

The two installments of The Hobbit will be shot back-to-back in New Zealand, beginning next month. Part 1 is due for release in Christmas 2012.