Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have set the stage for fans of Middle-earth with the announcement of a release date for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Mark your calendars for December 17, 2027, when Sméagol’s story will unfold on the big screen. This eagerly anticipated release is scheduled more than two years from now, marking a delay of at least a year from the previously announced 2026 plan. Yet, the excitement among fantasy enthusiasts remains undimmed as they eagerly await this Christmas treat in 2027.
The film is in the capable hands of director Andy Serkis, renowned for his directorial work on Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. Serkis, who has left an indelible mark on cinema with his performances as Caesar in the 2010 Planet of the Apes trilogy and, most iconically, as Gollum in both the The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, will not only direct but also star in The Hunt for Gollum. Fans can rejoice knowing that Serkis's deep understanding of Gollum's psyche will be brought to life both behind and in front of the camera.
Serkis won't be navigating Middle-earth alone; he'll be joined by an experienced team of producers including Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner. The writing team, composed of Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou, promises to deliver a compelling script. Last year, Jackson teased fans with insights into the film's narrative, hinting at an exploration of beloved characters’ pasts and the uncovering of stories that were previously left untold.
"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. "It’s too soon to know who will cross his path, but suffice to say we will take our lead from [original author J.R.R. Tolkien]."
The Lord of the Rings Movies in (Chronological) Order
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As Warner Bros. ventures further into the lore of Middle-earth with The Hunt for Gollum, the film is poised to introduce fans to likely returning characters. One such anticipated character is Gandalf, with Philippa Boyens suggesting to Empire last October that the wizard might appear in up to two live-action films. If all goes well, fans can hope to see the iconic role reprised by the original actor, Ian McKellen.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is slated for release three Decembers from now. While the wait may seem long, fans can stay engaged with the latest developments on Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which was confirmed to return for Season 3 earlier this year.
