Everything We Know About The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

More than two decades after Peter Jackson’s original Lord of the Rings trilogy arrived in theaters, Warner Bros. is preparing to return to J.R.R. Tolkien’s world with The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. The upcoming film, directed by and starring Andy Serkis, is set to explore a chapter of the story that takes place before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring.

The project has steadily added new cast members since it was first announced in 2024. Most recently, Anya Taylor-Joy joined the ensemble in a newly created role, alongside fellow stars Kate Winslet, Jamie Dornan, and Leo Woodall. Here’s everything we know so far.

What is The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum about?

The film will focus on Gollum during the years leading up to The Fellowship of the Ring.

Philippa Boyens, who co-wrote the screenplay and previously worked on both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, described the project to Empire as “quite an intense story” centered on a previously unexplored section of Tolkien’s mythology.

Who is directing the movie?

Serkis will direct the film and reprise his role as Gollum, a character he first portrayed through motion-capture performance in 2002’s The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

The project reunites several key creatives behind the franchise’s earlier films. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner are all producing, while Walsh and Boyens co-wrote the screenplay alongside Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou.

Who’s in the cast?

Several familiar faces from Middle-earth are returning.

Confirmed returning cast members include:

• Andy Serkis as Gollum
• Ian McKellen as Gandalf
• Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
• Lee Pace as King Thranduil

The film is also introducing several new characters and performers:

• Anya Taylor-Joy as Seren, a Sindar Elf of the Woodland Realm who serves as one of Thranduil’s trusted agents
• Jamie Dornan as Strider, later known as Aragorn
• Kate Winslet as Marigol
• Leo Woodall as Halvard

Woodall recently reflected on joining the franchise during an interview with People, calling the opportunity a “boyhood dream,” adding, “I watched it as a kid and I’ve seen it a million times, so to be part of it now is incredible.”

Taylor-Joy also shared her excitement about entering Tolkien’s world. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she said, “Being an Elf in this world is a dream come true.”

Has filming started?

Production is expected to take place in New Zealand, continuing a long-standing tradition for the franchise.

Serkis previously confirmed that filming would begin in 2026. Additional production updates have not yet been announced.

When will The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum be released?

Warner Bros. has set the film’s theatrical release for Dec. 17, 2027.

The date continues the franchise’s history of holiday-season releases, with many previous Middle-earth films debuting in December.

Are there more Lord of the Rings movies coming?

Yes. The Hunt for Gollum is expected to be the first of several upcoming Middle-earth projects.

Another film, currently titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, is already in development. The screenplay is being written by Philippa Boyens alongside Stephen Colbert and Peter McGee.

Colbert previously revealed that the project draws inspiration from sections of The Fellowship of the Ring that were not included in Jackson’s original film adaptation.

No release date has been announced for Shadow of the Past.