Journalists at the Edinburgh International Film Festival have been asked not to discuss Scottish independence with Elijah Wood after he was “caught out” by the Edinburgh Evening News.

The Lord of the Rings star is attending the film festival to promote Set Fire to the Stars, a biopic about acclaimed Welsh poet Dylan Thomas in which he stars alongside co-writer Celyn Jones. At the film’s red carpet première last night, he appeared to back the Scottish independence campaign.

In response to a question that apparently came from an Edinburgh Evening News writer, he said: “Independence for Scotland? Fucking go for it, man!”

But this morning, journalists preparing to interview Elijah Wood and his co-star were told by PR reps for the film that he had been “caught out” at the première and they were not to broach the subject of the referendum again.

His comment has already made headlines in Scotland.

Elijah Wood is expected to be in Edinburgh until 26 June.