The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Opens: Check Out Where The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Cast Is Now?

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Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins

Then: The cousin and heir of Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins is tasked by Gandalf to take the late Bilbo’s precious ring away from the Shire to Mount Doom in order to protect his kin from the coming onslaught of the Dark Lord Sauron. Earnest and true, Frodo takes his task seriously despite his fear and the dangers that await him.

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Elijah Wood—Now

Now: Elijah Wood began acting professionally when he was 9, but nothing in his career up to that point achieved the acclaim of his role as Frodo in all three Rings movies. After the films, Wood has sought out more independent projects like Sin City, Everything Is Illuminated, and the quirky FX TV series Wilfred. Wood returned to the Frodo role for the prequel, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

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Andy Serkis as Gollum

Then: Originally known as the Hobbit Sméagol, Gollum is the twisted creature that came out of Sméagol’s years-long exposure to the One Ring. Obsessed with “his precious” ring, Gollum was eventually banished by his people and went to live alone in the Misty Mountains. He remained there until he lost the ring in an altercation with Bilbo Baggins.

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Andy Serkis—Now

Now: A longtime collaborator of Rings director Peter Jackson, Andy Serkis continues to perform in motion-capture gear to bring to life characters like King Kong, Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Captain Haddock in The Adventures of Tintin. He’s also appeared in his own skin in 13 Going on 30, The Prestige, and Little Dorrit. Serkis has reprised his role of Gollum in both The Hobbit films.

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Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee

Then: A resident of the Shire and friend of Frodo Baggins, Sam eavesdrops on Gandalf and Frodo’s conversation about the Ring and is conscripted to help in destroying it. As Frodo gets weaker from the power of the Ring around his neck, Sam steps up to shoulder his friend’s burdens and becomes his loyal protector.

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Sean Astin—Now

Now: Sean Astin also started as a child actor and became known for films like The Goonies and Toy Soldiers. After Rings, Astin stayed just as busy, appearing in films like 50 First Dates and Click and TV shows such as 24 and Special Agent Oso. Astin will next be seen in the FX horror series The Strain.

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Dominic Monaghan as Meriadoc Brandybuck

Then: Merry Brandybuck is a jovial Hobbit who also embarks on the Ring journey to Mordor with his close friend Frodo.

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Dominic Monaghan—Now

Now: A relative unknown before the Rings films, Dominic Monaghan became a fan favorite and was able to turn his exposure into a successful acting career. He played Charlie Pace in the hit TV series Lost and was a regular in the short-lived drama FlashForward. Monaghan also appeared in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

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Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey

Then: A wise and benevolent wizard in Middle-Earth, Gandalf the Grey was a friend to Bilbo Baggins and knew he acquired the One Ring. When Sauron made his move to acquire it once more, Gandalf warned Frodo and sent him off on his journey to destroy it.

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Ian McKellen—Now

Now: Ian McKellen had a long and illustrious career before The Lord of the Rings films, but he only grew more popular after playing the iconic wizard. In the genre world, McKellen has played the villainous Magneto in several X-Men films. On the stage, he’s recently appeared in King Lear, The Seagull, and Waiting for Godot. Ian will return as Gandalf in The Hobbit trilogy. He'll also be reprising his role as Magneto in the upcoming X-Men film.

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Liv Tyler as Arwen

Then: The daughter of Master Elrond of Rivendell, Arwen fell in love with the human Aragorn. She intended to marry him, but her father tasked Aragorn with several measures to achieve before they could wed. Thus she waited for him as he fought against Sauron and protected the Fellowship on their journey.

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Liv Tyler—Now

Now: Before the Rings films, Liv Tyler was primarily known for acting in films like That Thing You Do! and Armageddon, aside from being the daughter of rocker Steven Tyler. Since then she’s been married and divorced and still appears in occasional films like The Strangers, The Incredible Hulk, and Super. Tyler will next showcase her talents on the HBO series The Leftovers.

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Orlando Bloom as Legolas Greenleaf

Then: An Elf and skilled archer, Legolas Greenleaf became part of the Fellowship of the Ring to Mordor. He made it his mission to find Merry and Pippin when the group was broken.

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Orlando Bloom—Now

Now: The Fellowship of the Ring was Orlando Bloom’s first major role, and it launched his career into the superstar realm. He then went on to play Will Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean films and Paris in the epic Troy. Bloom will again play Legolas in The Hobbit trilogy.

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Sean Bean as Boromir

Then: A son of Gondor, Boromir traveled to Rivendell to retrieve the One Ring to help his countrymen in the fight against Sauron. He was persuaded to join the Fellowship to destroy the Ring. Along the way he tried to forcibly take the Ring from Frodo and was repentant afterwards. He was killed by Orcs.

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Sean Bean—Now

Now: A busy British actor prior to the Rings films, Sean Bean went back to working in film and television in both the U.S. and the U.K. Notably, he starred in Troy with Orlando Bloom, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, and as Ned Stark in the HBO series Game of Thrones. Bean has several films upcoming in 2014 including Juptier Ascending with Channing Tatum.

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Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn

Then: Steady, heroic, and full of honor, Aragorn is the heir of Isildur and was fostered in his youth by Elrond of Rivendell. He fell in love with Elrond’s daughter Arwen but went out into the world to earn his true legacy and eventual title of King. In the battle against Sauron, Aragorn was a protector of Frodo for part of his journey to Mordor.

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Viggo Mortensen—Now

Now: Before his heroic turn as Aragorn, Viggo Mortensen was a supporting character actor in films like G.I. Jane and A Walk on the Moon. After the Rings films, Mortensen transitioned into leading man status and appeared in films like A History of Violence and The Road and won an Academy Award nomination for Eastern Promises. Mortsensen has a couple films in 2014 including The Two Faces of January.