Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood is arguably the most sought-after actor on the planet, fresh from celebrating his film's record-equalling 11-Oscar haul.
Last seen as Frodo, sailing from the shores of Middle-earth after a tearful farewell from his hobbit friends, he has now reappeared - at Upton Park football ground, east London.
Wood is to star in The Yank, a movie about a young American expelled from Harvard who ends up in London and becomes a passionate West Ham supporter.
His involvement seems set to guarantee the relatively low-budget film millions of viewers - and hugely profitable exposure for the football club. It is also in line to be the next successful film to star London in the wake of 28 Days Later and Love Actually.
Shooting began at West Ham's Saturday home fixture against Gillingham, Wood's third Hammers game in a row. Speaking exclusively to the Standard, the Iowa-born actor confessed he has become a real-life supporter.
"West Ham is my team - it has stolen my heart," he said. "They had a great game before, against Crewe, and it was brilliant. There were six goals and it ended 4-2 to West Ham.
"It was the first proper English football game I've been to. I'd seen Man United in LA but it didn't count. At West Ham it was incredible."
Wood will be shooting The Yank around east London for the next six
weeks. An American-produced movie, it has been wrongly branded a film about football violence because its US working title was Hooligan.
"Being an American that word doesn't have any kind of negative connotation - in fact it is a kind of silly word, it means ruffians, like little kids," said Wood.
German-born director Lexi Alexander changed the title when she realised the British English connotations of the word.
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Many will see Wood's move as a surprising career choice - after the $3billion-grossing Lord Of The Rings trilogy he could be making up to £5million per movie, rather than starring in a £3.5million production.
He said: "I've always wanted to keep doing different things. After the trilogy my initial feeling was I didn't ever want to be part of a big movie again, though it was the greatest experience of my life. When you commit such a large portion of your life, time and energy to something it is exhausting. I want to get back to basics: do something a bit less epic."
The actor was initiated into the mysteries of football by British Rings cast members, notably Sheffield United fanatic Sean Bean. Wood, 23, is to run out for West Ham in a pre-match kickabout this month. He said: "I'm rubbish. I'm sure I'll make a fool of myself. I don't know if they will come up with a chant - I hope they do.
"If it is from West Ham I hope it will be positive but if one of the other teams comes up with something I'm sure it will be some kind of derogatory hobbit chant - which I'm very much looking forward to."
