Exclusive: Constant speculation has been circling Lord of the Rings timeline.

Viggo Mortensen and Ian McKellen returning as Aragorn and Gandalf, respectively, seems like it would be vital to this story (neither actor is confirmed for Hunt for Gollum), but other classic Lord of the Rings characters have the potential to appear as well. And, in an interview with Screen Rant's Joe Deckelmeier at Fan Expo Philadelphia, Gimli actor John Rhys-Davies apparently confirmed his willingness to return to Middle-earth. Check out his comments below:

Screen Rant: I know that Andy Serkis is going to be directing a follow up to Lord of the Rings called the hunt for Golem. And if my memory serves me correct, you said you would return if you didn't have to do the prosthetics. And I got great news for you, because nowadays I think they can put them on in less than an hour. So could we expect Gimli to return and you reprising the role?

Rhys-Davies: If I’m asked to serve, I will consider it and probably say yes.

What This Means For LOTR's The Hunt For Gollum

Hunt For Gollum Could Have A Bigger Story

As is referenced in this interview, Rhys-Davies and other Lord of the Rings cast responded to The Hunt for Gollum questions at AwesomeCon in April 2025, where he said he might be interested if he didn’t have to wear uncomfortable prosthetics. In comparison, this is a much more enthusiastic response. This is Rhys-Davies saying that seeing Gimli again is a very realistic possibility, if the filmmakers have a place for him in the story.

While the exact nature of The Hunt for Gollum's plot is still somewhat ambiguous, the expectation that it will mainly be about Gollum, Aragorn, and Gandalf suggests a more contained narrative. However, Gimli returning means this movie could be a broader prequel to Fellowship of the Ring, especially with actors like Liv Tyler and Orlando Bloom also very interested. The Hunt for Gollum thus could be very nostalgia-driven while still framing the original story in a new context.

Our Take On John Rhys-Davies' Comments On Returning To LOTR

These Actors Are The Heart Of LOTR

It's very heartening to see another Lord of the Rings actor almost definitely on board with The Hunt for Gollum, with a poetic response of "If I'm asked to serve…," and it's starting to feel like the Fellowship is reassembling. Gimli's storyline may be largely separate from Gollum's, but if Legolas also returns, they might be able to do something with these two characters (ittedly, they are not supposed to meet until the Council of Elrond). But with more figures who are the heart of the series and its themes coming back, we could see a more hopeful side to Gollum's dark, lonely story.