The fantasy world has special status for former Hobbits.

New roles appear; new opportunities beckon. Just ask Sean Astin, who played Samwise Gamgee in the "Lord of the Rings" movies.

Astin currently stars in "The Color of Magic," which has its U.S. debut Sunday. He had already met its witty author, Terry Pratchett, four years ago.

That was when Astin was in one of his favorite places, New Zealand, to film the mini-series "Hercules." Paul Telfer, who played Herc, began talking about how Pratchett was coming to Auckland for a book-signing.

"Paul said, 'You've got to meet this guy; he's an amazing writer,'" Astin recalled. "We went down there and stood in line."

That's when word got to Pratchett. "He got so excited that there was a Hobbit in line," Astin said.

They had a long talk; then Astin began digging into Pratchett's "Discworld" novels.

His reaction: "The feeling just came through my spirit right away: 'They're going to make a movie about this. It's going to be an English production and I won't get to be in it.'"

For a while, he was right: The first "Discworld" film (the Christmas-themed "Hogfather") had no role for Astin. The second, however, has the perfect one.

Astin plays Twoflower, the first and only tourist in Discworld. He arrives with enthusiasm, camera and a trunk full of gold coins.

That gold -- worth very little in his own land -- seems to attract a lot of attention. Fortunately, the trunk has a mind (and legs) of its own.

Soon, Twoflower is being guided by Rincewind (David Jason), who has just flunked out after 40 years in wizardry school. This happens just as the world is being menaced by the ambitious Trymon (Tim Curry).

This is fantasy that kids will savor, but it's done with a wink to grown-ups. That's the Pratchett style, Astin said. "He's looking at the audience and saying, 'I know what you know.'"

Strong on special effects, "Magic" was filmed in England at the Pinewood Studios, known for the James Bond films and more, from "Superman" to "The Dark Knight." Astin had been there two decades ago, for "The Memphis Belle."

Working on "Magic" or "Rings" put him alongside classic talent. "Most of the English actors have such strong theater experience," Astin said.

He asks them a lot of questions; occasionally, he's surprised to be asked something about his own films. "If someone is in his 40's, chances are he's seem 'The Goonies' at some time."

When that movie came out, Astin was only 14, descended from Hollywood elite. His mother, Patty Duke, is an Oscar-winner and a former Screen Actors Guild president.

He's also descended from fantasy elite: His de facto (but not biological) father, John Astin, was the witty "Addams Family" star.

Sean was a fairly strong sci-fi fan -- "I loved 'Star Wars,' of course" -- and starred in Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron," back in 1995. The real break came, however, with "Lord of the Rings"; his oldest daughter, now 12, spent much of her pre-school time amid the beauty of New Zealand.

More sci-fi has followed -- "Jermiah," "Masters of Science Fiction," "Hercules," "The Color of Magic." The latter two were produced by Robert Halmi, now in his mid-80s. "Halmi's just a down-to-Earth guy, very serious, who has built up this amazing library of films."

Shooting "Magic" felt like "Rings," with one key difference. "I weighed 198 pounds then," Astin said. "Now I'm 165."

Astin, 5-foot-6, had put on the extra weight to play the chubby Samwise. It was a small sacrifice, to be able to spend the rest of his life as a former Hobbit.