The actor has neither confirmed nor denied his potential return, but the longtime actor said he wouldn't want anyone else to take up the mantle as long as he is "alive and able" to play the role, reports Deadline.

The actor acknowledged co-star Ian McKellen teasing details about the forthcoming movie to fans at a convention last year.

He told The Times UK, "It hasn't been officially announced, but at a convention last August, Ian let the cat out of the bag. So there is a good chance. I'm not able to officially say anything until it's announced, but I will say I'm thrilled with the prospect of another film.

"It's always a little nerve-racking when people talk about new movies for a world like Middle-earth. Everyone gets a little protective and hopes it retains its integrity, but this story is fun and thrilling. There is a genuine feeling of getting the band back together."

According to Deadline, the film is set for release in late 2027 and tells the story of what happened between the end of The Hobbit prequel trilogy and the beginning of The Lord of the Rings.

When told about Ian McKellen's statement about him not allowing anyone else to play Gandalf, Wood said, "Well, no, and I totally get that. I certainly wouldn't want anybody else to play Frodo either, as long as I'm alive and able. And I can also recognise what fun that is going to be, when you are in the cinema, and you see the hat turn around, and it's Gandalf. Because I'm also a fan, and excited to see how it all comes together." IANS