Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have set a release date for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, planning to unveil Sméagol's tale to audiences on December 17, 2027. This announcement positions the premiere more than two years away, marking at least a one-year delay from the previously announced 2026 plan. Despite the wait, fantasy aficionados are already marking their calendars for a memorable Christmas in 2027.
The film is being directed by Andy Serkis, known for his directorial efforts on Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. Serkis's acting prowess is legendary, especially for his portrayal of Caesar in the 2010 Planet of the Apes trilogy and, most notably, Gollum in both the original The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Fans will be delighted to know that Serkis will be involved both behind and in front of the camera for this new venture.
As a motion-capture icon, Serkis brings deep insight into Gollum's psyche. He'll be joined by familiar Middle-earth collaborators, including producers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner. The writing team comprises Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou.
Peter Jackson has provided some hints about the film's narrative. Audiences can expect to see beloved characters’ pasts explored, as Jackson aims to delve into stories that were "not covered" in the previous films. "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. He also mentioned that they will draw inspiration from J.R.R. Tolkien's original works to guide the plot.
The Lord of the Rings Movies in (Chronological) Order
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As Warner Bros. forges ahead with future The Lord of the Rings films, The Hunt for Gollum and possibly other movies may feature other returning characters. Gandalf is one name expected to appear, with Philippa Boyens hinting to Empire last October that he could feature in potentially two live-action films. If all goes as planned, the iconic wizard may even be portrayed by the original actor, Ian McKellen.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is slated to hit theaters in three Decembers. While fans eagerly await its release, they can keep up 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.
