News for Jul. 08, 1999

Wood IS Frodo!

7/08/99, 8:59 am EST - Xoanon

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Elijah Wood has been cast in the lead role of Frodo Baggins in New Line Cinema's live-action trilogy feature "The Lord of the Rings," based on J.R.R. Tolkien's internationally renowned fantasy novels.Production begins shooting in October in New Zealand.

The project marks a major commitment from Wood, since principal photographywill last more than a year on each film -- "The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers" and "Return of the King" -- andthey will be shot back to back. Peter Jackson ("Heavenly Creatures") will direct the mythical project, which tells the saga of a desperate battle against encroaching evil -- a perilous quest to save humanity that falls upon the shoulder of Frodo, who hasinherited a seemingly magic ring from his elderly cousin Bilbo.