Warner Bros. Pictures has offered a first look at the upcoming Lord of the Rings spinoff, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, as production officially begins. Actor and director Andy Serkis, reprising his iconic motion-capture role as Gollum/Smeagol, shared brief behind-the-scenes footage on Tuesday.
The snippet shows Serkis on a motion-capture stage in his familiar silver suit, preparing to embody Gollum. He is seen getting into his characteristic crouch, adopting Smeagol's raspy voice, and calling "Action!" The footage also suggests that the film will not be exclusively shot on virtual sets, with scenes appearing to be filmed on location in New Zealand, reminiscent of Peter Jackson's original Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The announcement that production has commenced is timely, given that Warner Bros. revealed plans for new Lord of the Rings movies in 2023. While The Hunt for Gollum was initially slated for a 2026 release, casting announcements have only recently been made. The film will star Kate Winslet as Marigol, Anya Taylor-Joy as Seren, Jamie Dornan as Strider, and Leo Woodall as Halvard. Several actors from the original film series are also returning, including Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, and Lee Pace as Thranduil.
Serkis is directing the film, which is penned by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou. Serkis has indicated plans to digitally de-age certain actors to align with the film's timeline. The story is set during the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, specifically bridging the gap between Bilbo's 111th birthday and Gandalf's return to the Shire. This period, detailed in the opening chapters of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, was largely absent from Jackson's 2001 film adaptation. The narrative will explore Gandalf's mission to enlist Aragorn to track down Gollum, seeking information about the One Ring's origins and its connection to Sauron's search.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled for a theatrical release on December 17, 2027. This release date places it in direct competition with Marvel Studios' Avengers: Secret Wars, potentially creating another major box office event similar to the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon.
In addition to The Hunt for Gollum, Warner Bros. is developing another live-action Lord of the Rings project tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past. Meanwhile, Prime Video's prequel series, The Rings of Power, is set to debut its third season later this year.