Warner Bros. Discovery’s plans to revisit Middle Earth have excited fans, but Hugo Weaving has officially shut down rumors of his return as Elrond in the upcoming The Hunt for Gollum. While the beloved actor played a central role in both the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, he recently confirmed that he won’t be involved in the new project, directed by Andy Serkis. Despite Weaving’s absence, anticipation remains high for the film, which promises to explore a darker chapter of Tolkien’s world.

As Warner Bros. moves forward with multiple Middle Earth projects, including the animated The War of the Rohirrim, which will hit theaters this December, Weaving’s decision not to reprise his role may come as a disappointment to longtime fans. However, with Serkis at the helm of The Hunt for Gollum, the franchise continues to expand in new and exciting directions, even without some familiar faces.