Not long after the news dropped thata newLord of the Ringsmovie is now confirmedfor release in 2026, exciting new details were revealed, with the project now titledLord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Original trilogy andThe Hobbitfilmmaker Peter Jackson will produce the project, and it has now been revealed that Gollum actor himself,Andy Serkis, will direct and star. The project is “currently in the early stages of script development” and is being written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou.
You can check out a press release regardingLord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum(viaVariety) below.
“The studio revealed the working title for the film is “Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” and it will be directed by and star Serkis in his iconic titular role. The film will be executive produced by Ken Kamins, with Serkis and The Imaginarium’s Jonathan Cavendish.”
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Warner Bros. bosses Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy released a statement, declaring their desire to “ensure audiences could experience the incredible world he created in a way that honors his literary vision.”
“For over two-decades, moviegoers have embraced the ‘Lord of the Rings’ film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran and Philippa have shown towards protecting the legacy of Tolkien’s works, and to ensure audiences could experience the incredible world he created in a way that honors his literary vision. We are honored they have agreed be our partners on these two new films. With Andy coming aboard to direct ‘Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,’ we continue an important commitment to excellence that is a true hallmark of how we all want to venture ahead and further contribute to the ‘Lord of the Rings’ cinematic history.”
Andy Serkis Cannot Wait to Return to the ‘Precious’ World Of Middle-Earth
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Peter Jacksonand his fellow producing partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens added that it is an “honour and a privilege” to return to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien to tell this previously untold tale.
“It is an honour and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that Stinker – Gollum! As life long fans of Professor Tolkien’s vast mythology, we are proud to be working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy and the entire team at Warner Bros. on another epic adventure!”
Finally,Andy Serkis resurrected Gollumfor his statement, saying…
“Yesssss, Precious. The time has come once more to venture into the unknown with my dear friends, the extraordinary and incomparable guardians of Middle Earth Peter, Fran and Philippa. With Mike and Pam, and the Warner Bros team on the quest as well, alongside WETA and our film making family in New Zealand, it’s just all too delicious…”
Serkis has become well-renowned for his motion capture performances, which first took audiences' collective breath away in theLord of the Ringstrilogy. The actor created one of the most terrifying, fascinating, and endearing characters in Gollum, a creature tortured by the power of the One Ring. So, while there has been some trepidation over thestudio’s plans forLord of the Rings, his involvement is sure to assuage some of those worries, hopefully making way for some excitement.
Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollumis now set for release sometime in 2026.
