The second edition of San Diego Comic-Con Málaga concluded Sunday after four days of programming, attracting over 60,000 attendees. The event featured a high-profile appearance by Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, who appeared as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the first film in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
For Wood and Astin, the experience of filming the trilogy in New Zealand fundamentally altered their personal trajectories. Wood, who began filming at 18, noted that returning home was often “extraño,” as he and his colleagues had to reintegrate as people whose lives had “changed completely” after spending months in a parallel reality. Both actors stated that their lives were defined by the films, forging a bond of friendship and a sense of family that persists today.
The enduring legacy of Middle-earth
He emphasized that the films serve as a “refugio” (refuge) and a source of accompaniment for people facing difficult times, including those suffering from depression or refugees who use the stories to process emotions.
Production memories and fan connections
The actors shared anecdotes regarding the physical demands of the production, including six weeks of intensive training in accents, scripts, and swordplay. Wood recalled working with specialists such as Bob Anderson. Astin noted these weeks helped them develop their characters and handle battle scenes.
The panel also highlighted Wood’s physical comedy in the films, noting he suffered a total of 54 falls across the trilogy—including 12 in The Fellowship of the Ring, 17 in The Two Towers, and 25 in The Return of the King.
Wood identified his favorite scene as the moment he was wounded by a Morgul blade at Weathertop, describing it as “muy tensa” (very tense). The actors laughed while recalling how director Peter Jackson suggested Wood fall under Astin’s chin during that sequence. Astin noted that the affection shown by fans at conventions confirms that the emotional connection viewers have with the films is “real.”
Other Comic-Con highlights
While the Lord of the Rings stars were a primary draw, the convention featured other major pop culture figures:
- Marvel Studios: Anthony Mackie, David Harbour, and Winston Duke made surprise appearances to promote Vengadores: Doomsday. Additionally, a 22-minute preview of the series Visionquest was shown.
- One Piece: Iñaki Godoy, alongside Taz Skylar, Peter Gadiot, and director Lukas Ettlin, attracted the largest crowds during the first two days.
- The Boys: Karl Urban held a conference discussing his character, Billy Butcher.
- Starship Troopers: The event brought together Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Michal Ironside, Jake Busey, and Denise Richards.
Spanish Television Reunion
In one of the auditoriums, actors Jorge Jurado, Víctor Elías, Natalia Sánchez, Antonio Molero, Fran Perea, and Antonio Resines reunited before hundreds of fans.