Weeks ago, Ian McKellen mentioned that only he and Andy Serkis were confirmed to be returning for Guillermo Del Toro’s two-part LotR prequel, The Hobbit.

One actor who definitely will not be joining them is John Rhys-Davies, who played Gimli the dwarf in the original trilogy.  Since Gimli’s father, Gloin, is in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Hobbit novel, Empire asked Rhys-Davies if he would be joining the cast as his character’s father.

“I’ve already been asked and to be honest with you, I wouldn’t. I have already completely ruled it out. There’s a sentimental part of me that would love to be involved again. Really I am not sure my face can take that sort of punishment any more.”

The “punishment” he’s referring to is likely the transformation he took to become a dwarf.  While onscreen, Gimli was one of the shorter characters, Rhys-Davies is 6′1″ and had to be rendered shorter by the use of movie magic, not to mention the obvious heavy use of make-up.

The actor isn’t opposed to returning to Middle-Earth, though.  ”‘I’d really prefer to play something quite different. Maybe an Elf.”

Source: http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=26172