Summary
- Andy Serkis is set to direct and reprise his role as Gollum in "The Hunt for Gollum."
- The movie will explore Gollum's past and involve original producers, set in Middle-earth.
- "The Hunt for Gollum" will premiere in December 2027, focusing on darker aspects of Middle-earth lore.
Andy Serkis has some great news for fans who have been patiently waiting for an update on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum film status, and he's very excited about returning to the iconic franchise once more. This time around, Serkis won't only reprise his groundbreaking role as the creature named Gollum, who came into possession of the powerful ring known as the One Ring, but the English actor will also be sliding into the director's chair ahead of The Lord of the Rings' prequel December 2027 release.
This isn't Serkis' first time helming a film. The 61-year-old from Middlesex, England, made his directorial debut with the 2017 movie Breathe, which starred Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Hugh Bonneville, and Tom Hollander. He also directed and starred in the film Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, and in 2019, adding to his already impressive list, Serkis directed the superhero film Venom: Let There Be Carnage, the sequel to Venom, starring Tom Hardy, Stephen Graham, and Woody Harrelson. However, it's Serkis' motion-capture work that captivated fans as he took on incredible roles like Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and War for the Planet of the Apes, as well as jumping into the video game world with developers Ninja Theory on Heavenly Sword as the game's villain, King Bohan.
‘It Wasn’t The Sort Of Lucrative Scenario’ Another Lord Of The Rings Star Talks Small Paychecks For The Massive Trilogy
Lord of the Rings may be a massive franchise, but one of its main stars didn't make a lot from the movies.
Andy Serkis Provides a Big Filming Update on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum
Speaking about heading back into Middle-earth with Collider, Andy Serkis revealed that he was "incredibly excited" about being able to work with his colleagues once again on The Hunt for Gollum, as well as heading back to New Zealand where The Lord of the Rings movies were originally shot. Although Serkis said that the film was still in the early stages of development and that it was a pretty "sizable movie" in terms of production, he did reveal that shooting for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will go ahead "in the early to mid-part of next year." Serkis also disclosed that the upcoming movie would be "surprising," yet it would still be very much a part of the lore that fans hold dear from the beloved trilogy, while teasing that new depths to Gollum will be explored.
“We're very early on in the process. We've been talking about the film over the course of the last year. We’re about to start a period of prep in the next few months or so. We will be shooting in the early to mid-part of next year, I guess, and then it'll be as long as it takes to shoot, which — it's a sizable movie — all ready for a December 2027 release. I'm incredibly excited to go back and work with my friends and family in New Zealand and actually do something which is, I think, going to be surprising, and yet very much part of the lore and the feel of the trilogy. The sensibility of it will feel, I think, close to that, and yet we're investigating in greater depth the character formerly known as Smeagol, but mostly known as Gollum.”
The Hunt for Gollum will feature the original fellowship of producers Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and Fran Walsh. The prequel to the original trilogy will explore the events between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, and will spotlight Aragorn's quest to find and capture Gollum, who possesses crucial knowledge about the One Ring. The most exciting part for Tolkien fans is that The Hunt for Gollum will lift the veil on the darker aspects of Middle-earth and look to expand on the captivating lore established by the magic set out by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Although the film was originally due to be released this year, it received a setback, with Serkis revealing that fans can expect it to premiere in 2027, but thankfully, The Hunt for Gollum now seems to be right on track. The Hunt for Gollum's release date is December 17, 2027, coinciding with The Return of the King, marking a long-awaited return to Middle-earth.
LOTR: The Hunt For Gollum Update Provides A Worrying Sign
The decision to delay The Hunt for Gollum's release is a worrying sign for the Lord of the Rings spinoff movies.
- Release Date
- December 17, 2027
- Director
- Andy Serkis
- Writers
- Arty Papageorgiou, Phoebe Gittins, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, J.R.R. Tolkien
- Franchise(s)
- The Lord of the Rings
Cast
-
Elijah WoodFrodo Baggins -
Andy SerkisGollum -
Ian McKellenGandalf
Source: Collider