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A quick Q&A with Orlando Bloom about the final Hobbit film!


Cape Town - Orlando Bloom, who portrays the role of Legolas in the final Hobbit film, sat down for a quick Q&A regarding the last movie.

How did you feel about coming to the end of this journey?

In a way, I experienced the end with The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I didn’t expect The Hobbit films to happen. But this certainly is the end of it. I guess I’m a bit older, a bit wiser, and very grateful. In many ways, Legolas is the character that’s been most influential and career-defining for me. I’m sad to see it go, in many ways.  

How would you describe Legolas’ closest relationships in this final film?

Well, all of the relationships…those between Thranduil and Legolas, the relationship with Tauriel, they all kind of pay off in this last movie. It explains who this character is who goes on to be the lone Elf in the Fellowship. What he witnesses in the trilogy of The Hobbit—the relationship between the Elves, the Dwarves and the Men, the actions of his own father, and even the dynamic between Tauriel and Legolas—will all shape his character. 

Have you ever met any Tolkien academics?

Actually, funnily enough, Stephen Colbert. He is remarkably well-versed on all things Tolkien. He did our panel in San Diego, Comic-Con, and I went on The Colbert Report when I was doing Romeo and Juliet in New York. Stephen knows really obscure minor details that nobody else knows. I’ll definitely give him that—him and Philippa Boyens. 

What kind of stunts can we expect in this final film?

They’re gonna be even bigger and better. That’s one of the many strengths of Pete (Director Peter Jackson). He really does understand who these characters are and what they need.  So it’s always fun to turn up as Legolas, because he gives us these crazy moments. I definitely did some wild stuff.

Has the filmmaking community in New Zealand changed?

It’s gotten bigger! Pete has always been cutting edge in the way he makes films. And that’s still the case. Some of the biggest movies of the last ten years have come out of WETA Digital. They still have that cutting-edge feel to them.

How good are your archery skills now?

Pretty good, actually. I did have a lot of practice. I think we can have an eye for those sorts of things and thankfully I’m quite good with that stuff. I enjoy it; it’s fun. 

Do you miss New Zealand?

Yeah, it’s a wonderful place. It gives me a warm, homey feeling. It’s nice to know it’s always there. I’ll look forward at some point to go back to visit Pete and Fran Walsh for a holiday. I never did that.  I always thought, ‘I’ll go back to New Zealand,’ but was always too busy. At the right time, it would be great to visit.



Apart from Ian McKellen, who made it through six films, you’re one of the most consistent characters in all the films, having been in five. Does that give you a sense of pride?

I’ve never thought of it, but it was wonderful to be asked to come back and play the character. I’d joked about it with Peter a long time ago, before he started it. It was incredible when he called, while he was in England and said, ‘We’d love to sit down and talk about the idea of bringing Legolas into The Hobbit movie, and we want to talk to you about how we see that being workable.’

I mean, Pete is now an authority on these worlds, let’s face it. He’s more immersed than anyone. So, when he said, ‘We see a window to have a great father-son conflict and dynamic and we’ll also introduce another character - it will all play into the character that you are, who then goes on to be the lone Elf in the Fellowship,’’ it made sense and felt authentic.

You get the chance to join up the dots between Legolas as he is now and the version you shot a decade ago.  Was that an easy progression to cope with?

Honestly, Rings didn’t really come into it. It was more about being in the moment with what was happening now. Without having the book to refer to, which was such a Bible for so many of us on The Lord of the Rings films, I was in the dark until I was given pages about exactly how his story was going to develop. 

You got to work with Evangeline Lilly.  How was it to work with her?

She’s fantastic. I think she embraced her role with all the vigor and passion that it needed. It can’t have been easy, to be representing the female contingent, as it were, as an Elf. Of course, there’s Cate Blanchett—who gracefully wafts in and out, whereas Evangeline had to wrangle this character down and figure out what it was.  She made that happen with Pete and Fran, and they really ran with her spirit.

Did you teach her a few archery skills?

She didn’t need me to teach her! She already had talent and also had a great stunt team. She had some good support there.  


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