A reader is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He reads precisely when he means to.

Elijah Wood is finally reading* The Lord of the Rings *25 years after playing Frodo: ‘They’re incredible!’

A reader is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is he early. He reads precisely when he means to.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and NME.

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March 18, 2026 6:33 p.m. ET

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Elijah Wood in 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'. Credit:

Pierre Vinet/New Line

It may have taken more than 25 years and four films, but Elijah Wood is finally reading *The Lord of the Rings*.

The actor, who played everyone’s favorite deeply traumatized hobbit Frodo Baggins in the original film trilogy and* *made a cameo in the first *Hobbit*, was asked about his longtime quest to actually read J.R.R. Tolkien’s books on Tuesday’s episode of *The Late Show*.

“I have this other rumor I need to get into with you,” host Stephen Colbert, a well-known *Lord of the Rings* enthusiast, began. “And I don’t want to put you on the spot here, okay? Is it true that you still haven’t finished reading* The Lord of the Rings*?”

Wood on 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert'.

Scott Kowalchyk/CBS

Wood, in response, promptly burst into laughter and crumpled over in his seat to hide his face. When he popped back up, the 45-year-old confessed he was mortified to answer the question given Colbert’s megafan status.

“To have it be from you, I feel almost the most embarrassed, Stephen,” he said. “Because I know no one else in my life that loves Tolkien more than you and has read the books more than maybe anyone.”

Wood as Frodo Baggins in 'Lord of the Rings: Return of the King'.

Pierre Vinet/New Line

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Wood proceeded to made it even worse for himself by pointing out that they actually started shooting the *Lord of the Rings* films in October 1999, meaning he’s actually had *27 *years to read the books and still hasn’t yet.

“I’ll at least say this: There’s an update,” he hedged. “I have started them.”

Colbert and Wood then exchanged a handshake over his small, but important progress. “Thank you,” Wood said. Referencing Tolkien’s high-fantasy masterwork, he continued, “And they’re incredible!”

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The host added, “Listen, I don’t want to tell you how it ends, but I’ll give you a hint: You know how it ends.”

To which Wood quipped back, “I do, yeah.”

While visiting *Late Night*, Wood also discussed his potential involvement in the upcoming Andy Serkis–directed *Lord of the Rings *spinoff, *The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum*.

Colbert acknowledged that there have been “a lot of rumors” surrounding Wood joining the film after his costar Ian McKellen totally spilled the beans that Gandalf and Frodo would return in the film at a fan convention last August.

Wood confirmed that he has “nothing to add” to the rumors. Still, he noted, “Nothing to subtract either! So we’re in a good spot.”

Watch Wood talk Tolkien in the clip above.

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