Anya Taylor-Joy, known for her roles in "Furiosa" and "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," is preparing to delve into J. R. R. Tolkien's seminal fantasy novels ahead of her appearance in "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum." The actress has been cast as Seren, a new character specifically created for the upcoming film, which is being directed by and will star Andy Serkis as Gollum.
Seren is described as a "Sindar Elf of the Woodland Realm" and a "trusted and lethal agent of King Thranduil." Taylor-Joy expressed particular enthusiasm for the "lethal" aspect of her character, stating to Variety, "It’s so fun. I mean, if my tombstone can say ‘Lethal Elf,’ I feel like I did a good job on this planet. So yeah, I’m excited."
Taylor-Joy shared that in her youth, she held a misconception that one had to choose between being a "Harry Potter fan or a Lord of the Rings fan." This changed during the COVID-19 pandemic when she watched Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy, leading her to realize that embracing both fandoms was possible and preferable.
The introduction of Seren has sparked discussion among "Lord of the Rings" fans, with some noting similarities between her described role and Tauriel, a character introduced in Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" film trilogy, who also served King Thranduil. "The Hunt for Gollum" is set to explore the period mentioned briefly in "The Lord of the Rings," focusing on Gollum's activities before the events of "The Fellowship of the Ring." The film will also delve into Gollum's origin story amidst the ongoing search for the Ring of Power by various factions, including Gandalf, Aragorn, and Sauron's forces.
Recent reports indicate that "The Hunt for Gollum" will employ AI and machine learning technology for digital de-aging of some characters. Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen are set to reprise their roles as Frodo and Gandalf, respectively. The film is slated for release on December 17, 2027. Another "Lord of the Rings" project, "The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past," co-written by Stephen Colbert, is also in development.