Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have set the stage for an exciting addition to the beloved The Lord of the Rings saga with the announcement of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Fans can mark their calendars for December 17, 2027, when Sméagol's story will unfold on the big screen. This premiere date is more than two years away, and represents at least a one-year delay from the previously announced 2026 plan. However, the wait won't dampen the spirits of fantasy enthusiasts who are already planning their Christmas festivities for 2027 around this cinematic event.
At the helm of The Hunt for Gollum is none other than Andy Serkis, known for his directorial work on Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. Serkis's deep connection to the character of Gollum, which he portrayed in both the original The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, as well as Caesar in the Planet of the Apes trilogy, adds an extra layer of authenticity to this project. Fans will be thrilled to learn that Serkis is involved both as director and actor.
Serkis's expertise in motion capture, coupled with the return of Middle-earth veterans Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner as producers, promises a deeply immersive experience. Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou will be crafting the screenplay, ensuring a rich narrative.
Last year, Peter Jackson provided some insights into the story, hinting at exploring the pasts of beloved characters. He emphasized the desire to delve into parts of Gollum’s journey that were not covered in previous films, drawing inspiration directly from J.R.R. Tolkien's works. "We really want to explore [Gollum’s] backstory and delve into those parts of his journey we didn’t have time to cover in the earlier films," Jackson stated, adding that the exact characters Gollum will encounter remain a mystery for now.
The Lord of the Rings Movies in (Chronological) Order
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As Warner Bros. ventures further into the expansive world of Middle-earth with The Hunt for Gollum and potentially more films, fans can anticipate the return of familiar faces. Gandalf, expected to appear in possibly two live-action films, might be portrayed once again by the original actor, Ian McKellen, according to comments made by Philippa Boyens to Empire last October.
With the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum scheduled for December 2027, fans have plenty of time to stay updated on other developments within the Lord of the Rings universe. Keep an eye on Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which has been confirmed for a third season.
