Sean Astin is trading in the Shire for SAG-AFTRA headquarters. The Lord of the Rings actor was elected national president of the 160,000-member performers union on Friday, stepping into one of Hollywood’s most powerful labor roles as the industry braces for another round of tense contract negotiations.

Astin, best known for playing loyal hobbit Samwise Gamgee in Peter Jackson’s fantasy trilogy, now finds himself facing challenges far more daunting than Mount Doom: studio consolidation, runaway productions moving overseas, and the looming threat of artificial intelligence.

“I feel proud and I feel determined,” Astin said after the results. “People keep saying to me, ‘I hope you have time to celebrate’ and celebrating feels like a foreign thought. This doesn’t feel like a moment for celebration. It feels like a moment to say thank you and get to work.”

The 54-year-old actor won decisively, securing 79% of the vote against rival Chuck Slavin, a background actor who ran as an independent. “While the outcome is disappointing, my commitment to advocating for transparency and member rights remains unshaken,” Slavin said in a statement.

Astin succeeds Fran Drescher, who led SAG-AFTRA through a historic 118-day strike in 2023. That contract fight secured AI protections and streaming bonuses tied to viewership, though many members felt more work was needed. Astin, who has described his approach as more moderate than Slavin’s, said he’s hopeful about the next round of negotiations.

“I have a very good feeling about going into this next negotiation, because it’s clear to me that it’s in both parties’ interest to achieve a good deal,” he said. “The truth is that no union and no management should ever want a strike — that is the tool of last resort.”

Astin’s running mate, Star Trek: Picard actor Michelle Hurd, was elected secretary-treasurer with about 65% of the vote. Together, the pair ran under “The Coalition,” a slate uniting candidates from SAG-AFTRA’s two major political factions.

Astin received a key endorsement from Drescher, who called him a “constant source of support and guidance.” For his part, Astin said he hopes to protect and build on her legacy while pushing for stronger AI protections and policies to keep productions in the U.S.

“Now is the time for the optimism,” Astin told members. “When you elect a new president, it’s a new chapter and a new page is turned. There is no reason not to charge forward as a union with our members.”