‘The Hobbit’: Orlando Bloom is back — whether Tolkien purists like it or not

May 27, 2011 | 5:01 p.m.

Orlando Bloom's Legolas battles against Uruk-hai warriors at Helm's Deep in the 2002 film "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers." (Pierre Vinet/New Line Productions)

Orlando Bloom as Legolas in "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers." (Pierre Vinet/New Line Home Entertainment)

Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom star in the 2003 movie "Ned Kelly." (Carolyn Johns/Focus Features)

Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp take to the high seas in 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." (Walt Disney Pictures)

Orlando Bloom signs autographs for fans during the gala performance of "Haven" during the 29th annual Toronto International Film Festival September 11, 2004 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Jim Ross/Getty Images)

Orlando Bloom in a scene from the 2005 film "Kingdom of Heaven." (David Appleby/Twentieth Century Fox/Associated Press)

Orlando Bloom in a scene from the 2005 film "Kingdom of Heaven." (David Appleby/Twentieth Century Fox/Associated Press)

Orlando Bloom plays opposite Kirsten Dunst in the 2005 film "Elizabethtown." (Neal Preston/Paramount Pictures)

Orlando Bloom arrives at the 77th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005. (Beatrice De Gea/Los Angeles Times)

Orlando Bloom in 2006 sequel "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." (Disney Enterprises, Inc.)

Orlando Bloom in the 2007 third installment, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." (Peter Mountain/Disney Enterprises, Inc.)

Orlando Bloom plays with a soccer ball at the New York Entertainment Soccer Tournament at the Tribeca Film Festival April 23, 2011. (Timothy A. Clary/Agence France Presse/Getty Images)

Actor Orlando Bloom and his wife, model Miranda Kerr, arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute gala, May 2, 2011 in New York. (Timothy A. Clary/Agence France Presse/Getty Images)

Orlando Bloom is ready to slide back in the saddle as the elf-prince Legolas from the “The Lord of the Rings” movies for Peter Jackson’s upcoming two-part adaptation of “The Hobbit.” It’s a move that may irk some die-hard fans of the J.R.R. Tolkien novels —  Legolas does not appear in the bookshelf version of “The Hobbit,” a tale set 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings” unfolds.

“Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas,” Jackson said in an announcement on his Facebook page. “I’m excited to announce today that we’ll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more. I’m thrilled to be working with Orlando again. Funny thing is, I look older — and he doesn’t! I guess that’s why he makes such a wonderful elf.”

Bloom, who next appears as the Duke of Buckingham in “The Three Musketeers” in October, is one of several actors from the original “Lord of the Rings” franchise whom Jackson has enlisted for “The Hobbit.” Elijah Wood returns as Frodo Baggins, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Andy Serkis  as Gollum. Also, Cate Blanchett will reprise the role of Galadriel, another character absent from “The Hobbit” novel.

Martin Freeman, best known from the British version of “The Office,” plays the lead role of Bilbo Baggins in the movie, which is currently shooting in New Zealand. The first Hobbit film is slated for release in late 2012, the second in 2013.

–Rebecca Keegan

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