Elijah Wood Joins Protest Against ICE After Deadly Minneapolis Shooting
The Sundance Film Festival is widely celebrated for its independent creative voices, but the 2026 iteration has taken on a significantly more somber tone as the focus shifted from the screen to the streets of Park City.
Over the weekend, a large gathering of festival attendees and high-profile stars occupied Main Street to protest the recent fatal shootings of two individuals by federal agents in Minnesota. Among the most prominent figures in the crowd was Elijah Wood, who stood alongside fellow demonstrators during a sunset vigil titled Sundancers Melt ICE.
The demonstration was organized to memorialize 37-year-old Renee Good, who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on January 7, and 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by federal agents this past Saturday. Footage from the scene captured a sea of protesters holding up lit mobile phones and chanting in unison against what many describe as a dangerous surge of federal enforcement in American cities.
The Lord of the Rings star shared his deep concern regarding the escalating violence during a conversation with the press. The folks who have been unlawfully gunned down in Minnesota — it’s awful, Wood stated. Here we are at this film festival that is about bringing people together; it’s about telling stories from all over the world. We’re not divided here; we’re coming together, he continued.
The actor was joined by other A-list figures who used their presence at the festival to signal solidarity with the movement. Natalie Portman, who is at the festival for her latest film, told reporters that what’s going on in this country right now is absolutely horrific. She specifically targeted the actions of the federal government and ICE, stating that what they’re doing is really the worst of the worst of humanity.
“Love melts ICE,” protesters chant at #SundanceFilmFestival (Video: Laura Grier) pic.twitter.com/cTyR8YO2By
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) January 26, 2026
The specific case of Alex Pretti has become a focal point of the national outcry, as bystander video appears to show the nurse being tackled and shot multiple times while he was defenseless on the ground. Despite official claims that the agents acted in self-defense, the lack of evidence that Pretti brandished a weapon has led many at Sundance to view the incident as an extrajudicial assault on a U.S. citizen.
Politics and activism are long-standing traditions at Sundance, which has previously hosted marches for women’s rights and protests regarding international conflicts. This year, the atmosphere was further charged by a recent incident involving Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost, who was the victim of a racially motivated assault at a festival party earlier in the week.
Beyond his activism, Elijah Wood remains a prolific force in the film industry as he enters 2026. He is currently at Sundance promoting the documentary series A Road Map to Happiness, a project that explores global well-being alongside a cast that includes Natalie Portman and Jason Momoa. Fans are also eagerly anticipating his role in the horror sequel Ready or Not: Here I Come.
The actor is also at the center of massive franchise news, as he recently hinted at a potential return to Middle-earth. Wood has expressed excitement for the upcoming film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which is being directed by Andy Serkis and produced by Peter Jackson for a late 2027 release.
While he has played coy about whether he will officially reprise his role as Frodo Baggins, his description of the project as a creative getting the band back together has fueled intense speculation.
Do you believe that high-profile film festivals like Sundance provide an effective platform for political change, or should these events remain focused solely on the art of filmmaking? Share your thoughts in the comments.