Elijah Wood is open to starring in a virtual reality (VR) experience based on the Lord Of The Rings films.
The 36-year-old actor is a VR aficionado and is launching his own game created by his production company SpectreVision, a thriller called Transference, next year (18).
He’s also keen to return as hobbit Frodo in a VR version of the Lord of the Rings, as long as director Peter Jackson and the original cast are involved.
“If it was something that Peter Jackson and a number of the original cast was involved in, perhaps,” Elijah tells London Evening Standard newspaper. “I certainly would be open to it, and curious as to what that would be.”
The star has some ideas as to how the new version might work, having tried out a Star Wars VR experience made by George Lucas‘ special effects company Industrial Light & Magic.
“Industrial Light & Magic did a very small Star Wars VR experience where you’re on Tatooine (fictional planet) and the Millennium Falcon (spaceship) lands – that’s awesome,” he says “There’s not much to it, you can’t really move around, but the idea that in that moment you can be in the Star Wars universe is incredibly impactful.”
Elijah’s game, created in collaboration with video game company Ubisoft, is based around the idea of experiencing other people’s consciousness, and has reportedly shocked those who have used a demo.
But the actor-turned-tech entrepreneur believes we are yet to fully understand the possibilities of VR technology.
“VR feels like the wild west,” he explains. “The rules aren’t fully defined. There are so many people innovating still, which is what makes it so exciting.”
